By Mark Forristel, Maxim Healthcare Staffing
You’ve received your HIM education, received your coding certification – GREAT! Now, how do you find a coding position?
As a National Recruitment Manager with Maxim for seven years, I have spoken to countless newly-graduated or newly-credentialed professionals who struggle to get their foot in the door as a coder. I can hear the frustration in their voices. After talking with so many current coding professionals about how they got started in the industry, I’m here to share learned tips and advice to anyone looking to start their coding career.
- Try to not start your search by applying to coding roles with a contract agency. Agencies tend to want a minimum of two years of production coding experience.
- Apply locally. Hospitals, physician groups, and clinics often post open jobs on their websites. Take a look and see if you can find a position near you (even if it is onsite) to gain those two years of experience.
- Don’t be afraid to take a position outside of coding, but still within the HIM/Rev Cycle field. I’ve connected to many coders who got their start at a local hospital doing billing, Release of Information (ROI), and patient registrar, to name a few. What I have found is that hospitals will often times train newly-credentialed professionals if they have shown good work ethic within other roles in HIM/Rev Cycle.
- Be OK with working onsite in an office environment. This is a fantastic way to educate yourself in real-life situations and learn from coworkers and management.
- Join your local AAPC and/or AHIMA chapters. There is great information shared at the meetings and in the newsletters that they send out.
Lastly, don’t get discouraged. There are countless amounts resources out there that can assist you in finding the perfect coding career. Be persistent, stay educated and believe in yourself!
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