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Here's another interesting article - this time from the Wall Street Journal - about the increasing rate of people leaving their jobs. With other job options for experienced workers and the recession on the upswing, people are feeling more comfortable abandoning jobs for happier times. While this may mean they are leaving positions in less than favorable working conditions, it could potentially leave employers open to hiring and training inexperienced people. So I ask you one question: Are you willing to work somewhere that has employee morale issues just to get experience? I will let you ponder that while you click this link to the article: More Workers Start to Quit .

I always like to pass along any links I can find about getting jobs. While this article is not specifically about coding jobs, it does list 10 cities that could prove to be hot spots for more jobs in the future. And when more jobs are created, that means more people. And people need health care. And all the health care claims they generate need to be coded and billed. See where I'm going here? If you took the time to research the job market before you enrolled in coding classes, you should have a good idea of what's out there. If not, I encourage you to look into relocation to get a job. I know a lot of people are rooted in their communities and either can't or don't want to move, but if it means getting your foot in the door, it could be a necessary evil. Enjoy this article from Yahoo Real Estate: 10 Best Cities for the Next Decade.

I've been painting a lot lately. I recently had the intense urge to splash bold color on my bathroom walls. And I have to say, that while I love making drastic changes to a room and gazing admiringly at the finished product, the actual process of getting there drives me a bit nuts. While I was prepping and painting, it gave me a lot of time to think about... well, everything - including coding, mentoring, and blogging. And it struck me how much painting is like coding. Maybe you don't paint the way I do, but as a typical perfectionist coder-type, I'm pretty picky about the end result. I always tell people that should this coding thing not work out for me, I'll go into interior design (LOL!). Finally, I've found a way to tie two of my passions together! At any rate, I hope you enjoy the analogy. It's All in the Prep Work First of all, I hate blue tape. Not because I have an aversion to the color blue, but it stands in the way of what I'm really lookin...

I recently came across this short article on the 5 mistakes people make in trying to get hired: The Savvy Networker .

I came across this article that I thought would be beneficial to newbie coders seeking jobs. So many of the people I talk to are concerned about the coding skills and experience but it's important that we don't lose sight of the basics. Check out this link: 7 Little-Known Reasons You're Not Getting Hired .

We've all seen or heard those bold tag lines in print ads and on television and the radio advertising the lucrative opportunities in medical coding and billing. But can companies and schools who make these claims really get you ready to enter the work force? Maybe, but there are some steps you should take before you give your money to any education institution. Let me first state that I am neither here to endorse nor denounce any school or college. I am simply trying to arm prospective students with the knowledge they need to make the best choices about their future careers. Step 1: Assess Your Community's Need for Coders Before you hand any money over for that coding program that promises to deliver, you need to do a little homework about your local job market. Yes, it is true - there is a national shortage of coders and the need for more coders in the future is only expected to increase. But that doesn't mean that coders are needed everywhere. Some places may be saturated...

As of today, here are my planned speaking engagements. I hope to see some of you there! Thursday, June 17, 2010 - "Cardiac Catheterization Coding" and "The Importance of Networking in Coding", Colorado Springs Chapter of AAPC, Colorado Springs, CO Tuesday, July 13, 2010 - "Taking the Shock out of Electrophysiology Coding" - Denver Chapter of AAPC, Denver, CO Thursday, July 15, 2010 - "Vascular Interventional Radiology Primer" - Loveland Chapter of AAPC, Loveland, CO Thursday, September 2, 2010 - "FY 2011 CMS IPPS Update" - AHIMA Audio Conference Kristi

When : May 25, 2010, 6:00-8:00 pm Where : Emily Griffith Opportunity School - Rooms 403/405 1250 Welton Street Denver, CO What : Cardiac catheterization coding has been deemed one of the most difficult areas of coding. Coding cardiac catheterization and percutaneous cardiac interventions (PCI) can prove to be a very lucrative career track, but first you need to know more than basic CPT coding. This event will provide an overview of cardiac anatomy along with coding guidelines for diagnostic heart catheterization and PCI procedures. The presenter will also discuss documentation requirements and present actual cardiac catheterization reports for extra practice. A basic knowledge of CPT is recommended for attendees. All attendees are encouraged to bring a 2009 or 2010 CPT codebook for coding case studies. About the Speaker: Kristi Stanton, RHIT, CCS, CPC is the Senior Consultant of Training & Education with The Wilshire Group Associates, LLC, based in Los Angeles, CA. She has 7 ye...