Getting your foot in the door...suggestions?

Okay, this is for all of you "experienced" medical coders. I've been looking at the thread on indeed.com on getting an entry job. Every job that you see advertising for medical coders (and there are lots!) all require a very minimum of 1 year, but 2 or more are desired. How is the best way to get your foot in the door?

Now for myself, I've many years of experience working in the medical field (medical secretary/transcriptionist/inpatient unit secretary), but I really don't have medical records experience. Would my background give me any slack or do I have to start from scratch working in a medical records department?

I am trying to network at the hospital that I am working in, and actually have an opportunity next week to sit down and talk with the coding supervisor of my hospital. I would though like to know other ways to get ourselves through that door.

Thanks,
Kris

I think you're way ahead of the game. You may need to make a lateral move into the medical records department before you can advance to coding, depending on your facility's policies and your credentials. Do you have any coding credentials yet? In our hospital, job openings are posted department-wide first, then hospital-wide, and only if no applicants are found does the position go public. Working in the medical records department will give you an edge.

When you meet with the coding supervisor, ask which credentials they require and which they prefer (they may accept cpc, ccs, rhit but may prefer one over the others). Find out if people within the department have preference for job postings and find out if you can start coding without experience. The other question I would ask would be to see if they will do an unpaid internship once you have a credential. This will show that you are motivated and willing to learn. I was just promoted from ROI to coder at my hospital and I have no coding experience (I do have CPC and RHIT, though).

Hi Annie,

Thanks for your feedback. Yeah, I realize that I may need to make a lateral move, maybe even a temporary step back in regards to pay, but I realize that it would only be temporary and I figure that 5 years down the road, I would be much further along.

I had a real nice conversation with the coding supervisor, and I really look forward to speaking with her further. Currently they have an entry level coding position for a medical coding student, but you need to have finished ICD-9, and a few other first term classes. It is a temporary per diem position for $10 an hour. I will let her know that if there is a position such as this in half a year or so, I'd be interested. Anything to get my foot in the door.

My plan includes doing the AHIMA Basic Coding (starting this next week), and simultaneously working on my AS-HIM. I definitely want to work on getting my RHIT and CCS certifications.

What is an ROI?

Kris

Sorry--ROI is release of Information, we follow HIPAA and facility rules for releasing medical information. At my facility it is where a lot of coders start out.

I just finished a medical billing and coding class.. I want to know if you guys have any advice on me getting my foot in the door. Please help me out with suggestions if any of you care to. It would be very much appreciated. Thanks guys!

There are Medical employment agencies that specialize in Medical Clerical jobs. Sign up with these. Secondly, place a job wanted ad on Craigslist doing data entry/billing.

Take your CPC-A exam for certification. Without certification doors remain closed to you.

Best wishes.

hello,I have been working as a intern coder since September 08 , with my supervisor reviewing my work, and handing back with corrections, she has not had the time to property instruct me, unfortunely for me i have 8 weeks to improve or i'm out of work. My medical experience include: AS degree and 14 years as a LVN, and two years experience as a unit clerk on med surg. What is your suggestions?

SUSAN in North Hollywood, California said: There are Medical employment agencies that specialize in Medical Clerical jobs. Sign up with these. Secondly, place a job wanted ad on Craigslist doing data entry/billing.

Take your CPC-A exam for certification. Without certification doors remain closed to you.

Best wishes.

WHERE IS THAT? =)

Ashley in Cape Coral, Florida said: WHERE IS THAT? =)

i have worked with a couple of recruiter/employment agencies, they were very helpful, but the jobs were temp to hire, i was (and still am) not in a position that i be unsure if i will have a job in 3 months, but if you are looking for some experience, and are not so picky about whether it is temp or permanent, they are a good way to go.

I am having the most difficult time getting considered for any billing or coding jobs, even with Temporary agencies. It seems that every employer wants and can demand that applicants have at least 1-2 years experienc. I recently received my Billing and Coding cerificate, but fear it was all a waste of my money. Any help or ideas would be appreciated. Thanks.

Chad in Riverdale, Maryland said: I am having the most difficult time getting considered for any billing or coding jobs, even with Temporary agencies. It seems that every employer wants and can demand that applicants have at least 1-2 years experienc. I recently received my Billing and Coding cerificate, but fear it was all a waste of my money. Any help or ideas would be appreciated. Thanks.

Hi Chan, I'm in the same position as you are. I received my Billing and Coding diploma from a local community college that offered the program on May 2010. I got my CBCS (Certified Billing and Coding Specialist) from NHA in July 2010, but from there it's been a dead end for me. I cannot afford to get a CPC at the moment, and the only lucky break that I got was a recent 2-month stint at a medical coding clearinghouse that unfortunately didn't translate into a full-time position.

I can understand how just about every single place of employment want experienced workers to hire, but what I have trouble accepting is why not one of these same places won't give anyone the 2+ years of required experience that they're looking for! I mean, it's like a catch-22 situation where you've got trained professionals or brand new career-changers (like me) who are more than eager to start from the bottom, but no one seems to take into consideration the fact that there aren't many of us who are lucky enough to get so much as an externship experience in medical billing and coding. There's been big talk about how the healthcare industry is in need of billers and coders, but I've yet to actually see any real progress in terms of hiring newly-graduates of the field getting hired because of their lack of the "big" certifications that everyone apparently needs to break into but not everyone can afford to get. I'm completely lost on how to go about this career move at this point.

Allison L. in Chicago, Illinois said: Hi Chan, I'm in the same position as you are. I received my Billing and Coding diploma from a local community college that offered the program on May 2010. I got my CBCS (Certified Billing and Coding Specialist) from NHA in July 2010, but from there it's been a dead end for me. I cannot afford to get a CPC at the moment, and the only lucky break that I got was a recent 2-month stint at a medical coding clearinghouse that unfortunately didn't translate into a full-time position.

I can understand how just about every single place of employment want experienced workers to hire, but what I have trouble accepting is why not one of these same places won't give anyone the 2+ years of required experience that they're looking for! I mean, it's like a catch-22 situation where you've got trained professionals or brand new career-changers (like me) who are more than eager to start from the bottom, but no one seems to take into consideration the fact that there aren't many of us who are lucky enough to get so much as an externship experience in medical billing and coding. There's been big talk about how the healthcare industry is in need of billers and coders, but I've yet to actually see any real progress in terms of hiring newly-graduates of the field getting hired because of their lack of the "big" certifications that everyone apparently needs to break into but not everyone can afford to get. I'm completely lost on how to go about this career move at this point.

I have a little over a month left in my 15 month online coding program & I'm about to embark on my 1st rotation tomorrow. I have applied t numerous coding & medical receptionist jobs & nothing! I've been in dentistry for the past 13 yrs. & wanted a career change but beginning to wonder if any one will give me a chance. I'm will to work as a medical receptonist or whatever to work my way up but I'm not even getting 1 call back. I'm getting worried!

i graduated from us career institute in medical claims and billings 1 year ago now i cannot find a job as medical biller entry level iam still jobless no where to go some employers preferred 1-2yrs experience or AA degree in health management why it's hard to find a job as medical biller they outscource the job by sending them to 3rd world countries.Now iam a vendor at the flea market what waste of time to finish the certificate online on medical claims and billings

rico in Chico, California said: i graduated from us career institute in medical claims and billings 1 year ago now i cannot find a job as medical biller entry level iam still jobless no where to go some employers preferred 1-2yrs experience or AA degree in health management why it's hard to find a job as medical biller they outscource the job by sending them to 3rd world countries.Now iam a vendor at the flea market what waste of time to finish the certificate online on medical claims and billings

That's really a shame! I am less than a month away from being done with the coding program & I'm planning on taking the certification exam in Jan. I am being told that I need either experience and/or cert. to be considered for a job. I quit applying for coding jobs until I complete them both. I just hate that people won't give anyone a chance. You need someone to give you a chance in order to get experience! I don't get why they won't give us an opportunity! I think if you're in school or completed a program that it should be recognized! Good luck....it's so frustrating but I'm not going to give up! I worked to hard & paid for the program on my own to not get a job in this field! Don't give up!!!

the health field is saturated graduates of medical biller no jobs available including dental hygienist xray tech graduate etc these people paid big sum of money just to finished their career couldn't find employment now they are stuck with student loan bill.

Hello I have the same certification CBCS but I have a few years of experience but at first it was tough I really tough but try in apply for any medical collection or medical customer service position that's how I got my start and now I'm a pre certification Rep which does include doing coding and yes I was asked about my very this cert helps you out a lot when it comes to doing billing and coding or insurance and coding not a strictly coding position it's just like. Having you're cpc a or cca which is meaningless unless you have experience

Allison L. in Chicago, Illinois said: Hi Chan, I'm in the same position as you are. I received my Billing and Coding diploma from a local community college that offered the program on May 2010. I got my CBCS (Certified Billing and Coding Specialist) from NHA in July 2010, but from there it's been a dead end for me. I cannot afford to get a CPC at the moment, and the only lucky break that I got was a recent 2-month stint at a medical coding clearinghouse that unfortunately didn't translate into a full-time position.

I can understand how just about every single place of employment want experienced workers to hire, but what I have trouble accepting is why not one of these same places won't give anyone the 2+ years of required experience that they're looking for! I mean, it's like a catch-22 situation where you've got trained professionals or brand new career-changers (like me) who are more than eager to start from the bottom, but no one seems to take into consideration the fact that there aren't many of us who are lucky enough to get so much as an externship experience in medical billing and coding. There's been big talk about how the healthcare industry is in need of billers and coders, but I've yet to actually see any real progress in terms of hiring newly-graduates of the field getting hired because of their lack of the "big" certifications that everyone apparently needs to break into but not everyone can af

Dwight said: Hello I have the same certification CBCS but I have a few years of experience but at first it was tough I really tough but try in apply for any medical collection or medical customer service position that's how I got my start and now I'm a pre certification Rep which does include doing coding and yes I was asked about my very this cert helps you out a lot when it comes to doing billing and coding or insurance and coding not a strictly coding position it's just like. Having you're cpc a or cca which is meaningless unless you have experience

pre certification Rep? interesting i hear that medical coding positions can have various names and thats supposedly part of the problem when looking for a job and i know another issue when searching is only looking online which only presents one with %10 of the jobs that are hiring we're so tech savy these days maybe thats why America feels so jobless cause were expecting to find everything online (just a thought)

Rubie Taylor in Montgomery, Alabama said: pre certification Rep? interesting i hear that medical coding positions can have various names and thats supposedly part of the problem when looking for a job and i know another issue when searching is only looking online which only presents one with %10 of the jobs that are hiring we're so tech savy these days maybe thats why America feels so jobless cause were expecting to find everything online (just a thought)

Yes i do concur with i found my however i did find my job on craiglist lol but if you look at it thats just like looking in the papers because it was free to post but i would suggest anyone trying to get into this field to not focus all of you attention on trying to find a CODING job but try and find any type of HEALTH INFORMATION job because there is a lot to coding that unless you have a degree you would'nt know about but however please dont give up on your dream/goal or whatever this is or means to you because it is worth the struggle and no i am not there doing strictly coding yet but i am getting closer so i hope this helps you all out and i am here for any questions or concerns you might have oh and also i forgot to mention that you have a lot of people that will not be willing to train you if they either feel that your going to take there job or that you're just there for the training only and dont plain on sticking around