How do you get your foot in the door?

I will be graduating from Heald College in April and i have been looking for jobs already and applying but many companies and hospitals want someone with 1-2 years experience. I have called around, emailed, and applied for many positions online. I have applied for collections, billing, coding, patient admissons, payment poster, customer service, and medical records clerk. I keep getting turned down.

I have over 10 years experience in customer service, i know medical terminology, the disease process, and ICD-9, CPT4, HCPCS, about DRG's, the different insurance companies and how they bill and i have not had 1 hit on my resume. I am starting to get worried in fear of not being able to get a job after having paid almost $15,000 for this education and i have a student loans that i will start making payments on shortly.

How do you get your foot in the door with companies when you don't have the "work experience" but have 9 months hands on in the "class" experience?

I am in the Sacramento, CA area and any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. :)

You have to just keep trying, this economy is a tough one. Most doctors are making cut/backs. Hospital's however might be a better fit.
Did your school provide you with a program for internship?

Linda Walker
PMRNC
www.billerswebsite.com

Hi Linda. Thank you for taking the time to read my post. Yes, i am interning at a Physical Therapy site and i have yet to be able to see or do any medical billing. I fold towels, wipe off tables, stock gowns, and file for the short time i am there. I have already voiced my concern to the school about how i'm not getting that "hands on" in medical billing/coding and they just tell me that's the way it is and how that facility runs. I can understand if i was going to be an MA or a PT assistant. I have tried to find my own internship and most of the hosoitals and facilities around are contracted with other schools and will not let me come in. I have also tried to switch to another site because they have one available at a local hospital that does higher students and allows them to work from home but they will not let me. I figured i would finish the one i have started and do another one at the hospital if it is available when i am done.

Chel said: Hi Linda. Thank you for taking the time to read my post. Yes, i am interning at a Physical Therapy site and i have yet to be able to see or do any medical billing. I fold towels, wipe off tables, stock gowns, and file for the short time i am there. I have already voiced my concern to the school about how i'm not getting that "hands on" in medical billing/coding and they just tell me that's the way it is and how that facility runs. I can understand if i was going to be an MA or a PT assistant. I have tried to find my own internship and most of the hosoitals and facilities around are contracted with other schools and will not let me come in. I have also tried to switch to another site because they have one available at a local hospital that does higher students and allows them to work from home but they will not let me. I figured i would finish the one i have started and do another one at the hospital if it is available when i am done.

I understand your frustration, unfortunately in today's market it might take a while before you can move up to the position you want, even being patient may not pay off as physicians will be making a lot of cut backs ..especially now. With your education and experience, have you thought of starting your own business, It's a good time to do that!

Linda Walker
PMRNC
www.billerswebsite.com

I think your best bet would be to try and get in as a medical records clerk which is the entry level of a coding department at a hospital. I currently volunteer in a HIM department and they have strict policies about having someone help out with their billing. It just isn't as easy unless you know someone who is directly employed in that department. I am attending school to become an RHIT and they also deal with the medical billing portion but I have found out that I am going to have to start out as a medical records clerk before I even start doing the coding. Oh and another thing, you might want to consider taking the CCA exam from AHIMA. Their credentials are taken seriously in hospitals because it shows that you are serious about starting a career in medical billing and coding. I hope your school told you about this organization.

Good luck.

Thank you for taking the time to respond to my post fnunez82. :) I totally agree with you about having to know someone that knows someone in the billing department/hospital to be able to get in. I have applied for medical records and they want you to have "experience". How can i get experience if i can't get hired. My next step, after my internship, will be volunteering at a local hospital in the medical records department. I don't know what else to do.

:)

Chel said: Thank you for taking the time to respond to my post fnunez82. :) I totally agree with you about having to know someone that knows someone in the billing department/hospital to be able to get in. I have applied for medical records and they want you to have "experience". How can i get experience if i can't get hired. My next step, after my internship, will be volunteering at a local hospital in the medical records department. I don't know what else to do.

:)

I'm going to do the same thing---try volunteering at a local hospital---I'm at wits end too