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As you know, working medical coders and billers, as well as recent graduates from vocational training programs should seek certification as soon as possible to succeed!

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Were Would I Look For Billing and Coding Opportunities to Apply My Skills?

Virtually every licensed health care provider, whether practicing out of a private office, or with a group of physicians, or a clinic, or hospital; they all require billing staff and coders. Possibilities also abound with medical and diagnostic laboratories, insurance companies, law firms (in the field of personal injury), nursing homes, auditing and consulting firms, industrial work/accident clinics, emergency rooms, standalone clinics for semi-urgent care, surgical centers, mental health centers, ambulance and home health services require coders.

How About Going Into Health Information Management?

Definitely an excellent idea! With experience and education everything is possible. Going into Health Information Management (HIM) is a great move up the career and income ladder. Statistically, HIM, of which coding is a part, is a rapidly growing field. According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook published by Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor, health information technicians are projected to be one of the 20 fastest growing occupations.

Medical records and health information technicians held about 159,000 jobs in 2004. The upward trend of HIM is expected to continue at a much faster than average rate through 2014 because of rapid growth in the number of medical tests, treatments, and procedures that will be increasingly scrutinized by health insurance companies, regulators, courts, and consumers.

I've been a Stay-At-Home-Mom for a few years and want to get back to work. How can I make the employment gap stand out less in my resume?

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There are some simple strategies that can help you deal with gaps in employment. You can try using different types of resume formats (depending on your situation) to cover the gap.

1. How to Handle the Questions

The best way to handle a time gap of more than 2 years would be to be honest. If you took time off for personal reasons, for example, say so - but try not to give too many details. Usually, any information that you provide will be accepted if the gap was a long time ago. Recent gaps in employment generally require more explanation.

2. How to Write Your Resume

Functional Resume

Professionals who have vast experience in several technologies frequently use this resume style. Job seekers who have minimum experience also prefer this format. Job seekers who adopt the functional resume style systematize it by adding their specialized skills and functions. This resume style is purely functional, stating employment dates, company names, and position titles.

This style also works well for homemakers who are returning to work after awhile. Functional resumes are not used as frequently as the chronological style, but if well drafted, it can cover up any gaps in employment and can be used as a marketing tool.

Chronological Resume

This format is also called the default format, as this resume type is organized in reverse chronological order starting with job titles, names of the employers, employment dates and achievements within a time period of 10-15 years. This style is the best bet for those who have lots of experience in one field and who don't have many employment gaps.

This resume style is well accepted, as it is usually short and concise, with details well specified. Conservative career professionals or job seekers who are searching for openings in the international job market also use this format.

3. How to Include the Explanation

If you prefer using a functional resume, you should include a short explanation for the gap in your cover letter. Including a legitimate explanation always helps - just make sure that you mention it in passing and don't get too detailed unless you are asked about it later.

If you have a big gap and don't mention it in your cover letter, then many recruiters may discard your resume thinking that you are not serious about your career. If it's a minor employment gap, recruiters generally will understand, but if you had a more complex issue resulting in a larger gap, then it is better to specify it during the interview on your own.

The biggest concern for an employer when they see gaps in employment is whether this issue is an indication of your probable future absence. How you address any gaps in your employment will usually determine whether you will get the interview or not - so be prepared.

I know there are jobs a medical office, but are there larger companies that hire?

National coding companies hire medical coders and billers who are certified and often expect 1-2 years experience in the field. Medical transcription (MT) companies also offer coding to their clients. The field is unlimited throughout the country, but more so in the largest States—in particular, California, New York, Florida, Texas, and Pennsylvania. For more concrete answers and statistics go here.

What else, beside billing statements and invoices, will I be responsible for?

Medical billers in medical offices often handle additional administrative tasks that may include working in reception, answering telephones, scheduling appointments, filing medical records and invoices, sorting financial records, transcribing dictation, and mailing out letters.

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Get Your FREE Career Information Kit Just tell us where to send it!
Benefits of Medical Billing and Coding Certification... Countless job seekers face barriers to employment and promotion because they lack professional credentials! Certified professionals are more readily hired at higher pay than their non-certified counterparts. Since 1989 over 150,000 health care professionals have earned the recognition and rewards gained from passing NHA certification exams. By attaining certification they have joined a growing distinguished group of knowledgeable and expert health care professionals. NHA grants Certified Billing and Coding Specialist credentials to: new graduates based on their training working individuals based on experience through NHA's Home Study Program		Reasons Behind the High Demand For Medical Billers Medical, therapeutic, and pharmaceutical services play an important role in our nation's economy! Driven by the ever increasing need for medical services wherever there are people the opportunities in healthcare related disciplines never cease to exist. There is plenty of room for men and women in healthcare occupations as long as they have the drive to achieve their dreams. Employment is not limited by location, gender, race, religion, or even disability. Recruiters and employers are readily hiring qualified staff to better serve their patients and clients; this includes medical billers, whose job it is to make sure healthcare providers get paid for the medical services they have provided in their community.