Email - Counseling@midlandstech.edu

Educational Preparation:   Certificate in Medical Record Coding - Midlands Technical College
Bachelor of Music - State University of West Georgia  

What are the typical duties of someone in your position?In my position as a coder, I review a patient's medical record following discharge and assign codes for the appropriate diagnoses and procedures.

How did Midlands Technical College help prepare you for your career field?  The courses required in the Coding Certificate program prepared me for the medical language used in the records that we read every day.  These courses included Medical Terminology, Anatomy and Physiology, and Pharmacy.  The courses in computers were a great help, also.

What things do you find rewarding about your profession? I enjoy learning more about the medical field, disease processes, and how a hospital works.  Even though my position does not require a great deal of contact with the public it is rewarding to help patients and their families with finding their way around in the hospital.

Are there aspects of your profession that you find stressful? Our work impacts the revenues of the hospital; the final bill cannot go out until the medical record has been coded by our section of medical records.  Therefore, when the census is high (the hospital is full) our workload increases and the pressure to get our work done can be stressful.

What do you see as the most important personal qualities someone considering going into your profession should have?   A person in this profession needs to be detail oriented and good at reading the medical record (including physician handwriting) in order to "paint a picture" of the hospital stay using numbers.

What advice do you have for students at Midlands Technical College who might be interested in entering your profession? Study especially hard in those courses that increase your medical knowledge.  Learn to network while a student; go to professional meetings and seminars so your face becomes familiar to those who may be hiring when you finish school.  Don't forget to dress and act professionally as a student, too, especially at your clinical assignments.

Is there any other information you would like to share with students? I was fortunate to have Midlands Technical College as a resource when I found myself wanting to change careers after my children were grown.  I still use my music degree but knew that I wanted to get into something different for the rest of my working years.  I thought I knew what field I wanted to change to but the testing and counseling services at MTC helped me identify my strengths and find what has become a very satisfying career.  I recommend anyone who is considering a career change to consult MTC for help before making a big decision.