AllHealthcare

 Ok, we all know that education goes a long way in getting one's foot in the door of a prospect employer or job recruitment agency.  

My question is:     How does one deal with the thought of becoming a certified medical coder?  

  I, for one, am very ambitious and goal-oriented.  I just completed my A.S. degree in Medical Insurance Billing and Coding in April 2007.  I was very fortunate to be "plucked" off the streets (sort to speak), with no relative prior Medicare collections experience.  I think my collections background had a lot to do with that decision.  I will be approaching my 2nd year of Medicare collections experience in January 2009. 

  With that said, I know I am making a good move by getting as much entry-level experience as I can from the ground-up.  But my heart is in coding.  I feel I could really excel in the medical coding field.  I love challenges and the prestige that go along with the title.  For some reason, I find myself at war with the perplexing thoughts of how and when I should pursue my coding career.  I have oftentimes played with the thought of hitting the books again (ICD-9 and soon to be ICD-10, CPT, Anatomy, Medical Terminology) and to actually sign up for a coding workshop in preparation for taking the certification test.

  Any suggestions on the cost, time invested, and where I can get certified?  To me, this is very serious.  This is my career and medical coding will forever have a special place in my heart.

I have just completed my internship as a pharmacy technician and am looking forward to a position in home infusion.  I worked for a retail chain pharmacy that sparked my interest in going to school.  I graduate in December 08' and look forward to a career that i actually enjoy doing.  They say that the medical field can be stressful, but so can life.  Just make sure that you dedicate your all in any health career that you choose.