by Rebecca Harmon, MPM, RHIA, CCA The option to work remotely seems like a dream come true for many of us. No rush hour traffic, some extra sleep, no dress code (sweatpants anyone?) and it saves a ton of money in gas. What’s not to love!? There’s a LOT to love about the option of […]
read more »by Rebecca Harmon, MPM, RHIA, CCA We are several weeks into a sea change in our daily lives. Not only can we work from home, but we are being encouraged to remain at home outside of work as well. I was scheduled to speak at two different annual meetings that have been cancelled, and my […]
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by Rebecca Harmon, MPM, RHIA, CCA One of the major benefits of becoming a Medical Coder is the opportunity to work from home. Remote employment offers a multitude of benefits, including lower costs for professional clothing, reduced vehicle costs, and avoiding the stress of morning and afternoon rush hour commutes. There are also benefits to […]
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by Rebecca Harmon, MPM, RHIA, CCA When I worked with the local community college, I enjoyed traveling to area high schools to talk about career planning with students. I was always struck with the students’ enthusiasm for their futures, but I also often heard some wildly unrealistic plans. When I say “unrealistic,” it’s not […]
read more »by Rebecca Harmon, MPM, RHIA, CCA Growing up, we learn to be grateful for any gift that someone gives us; no matter what it is. Most children have at some point had to say “thank you” for funny-colored sweaters from grandmothers, unusual gifts from Uncles and gifts we believe that we outgrew years before from neighbors […]
read more »by Rebecca Harmon, MPM, RHIA, CCA I spent the first half of my career wringing my hands over bad bosses and wondering which of the angry gods was punishing me THIS time, and why. It took me some time to figure this whole boss thing out. Maybe you can relate! For a long time I […]
read more »by Rebecca Harmon, MPM, RHIA, CCA Popular inspirational teachers often remind audiences that when they have the choice to be RIGHT or KIND, they should always choose kindness. This is not new counsel. Wisdom tales across time and cultures have highlighted the importance of kindness. Recently I came across a research study that showed a […]
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by Rebecca Harmon, MPM, RHIA, CCA
You’ve done it! You’ve studied, sacrificed time and sleep, and hung in there. You’re a graduate and a newly-credentialed Coder – congratulations! Now it’s time for the next step: job hunting, interviewing and hopefully, beginning that new job! Read more
read more »by Rebecca Harmon, MPM, RHIA, CCA Over the past year, I welcomed several new Coders into our Medical Center’s HIM department. The last few hired were brand new graduates from a local coding training program. As new (really new!) coders, I thought that they might have some good insights into landing that first Coding job, […]
read more »by Rebecca Harmon, MPM, RHIA, CCA Over the years I’ve learned a thing or two about being a good employee, and being a not-so-good one. I’ve spent my fair share of time as the office rock star but would be lying if I didn’t also report that I’ve spent time as an employee the boss […]
read more »by Rebecca Harmon, MPM, RHIA, CCA As an educator in both community college and university settings, I had the great privilege of being around students as they prepared to enter the workforce. Some were just emerging from college as fresh-faced new graduates while others were finding a new lease on life with a change in […]
read more »It’s as if the world gives a shout-out to all of us – not just the kids going back to school – that it’s a good time for a return to getting serious about what we know now, and what we need to learn in the coming year….
read more »Our coding careers can sometimes travel a similar path. We researched and chose the right path in terms of our education and credentials. We faithfully keep up with our continuing education and participate in …
read more »Over the years I have encountered two distinct groups of people at work: those who believe the responsibility for their career lies with their employer (or manager) and those who believe that the responsibility is theirs. Guess which group …
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Lifelong learning is touted as a requirement for career longevity by many education experts. I agree that we should always strive to learn and grow, but I also think that while learning, we need to keep our eyes open for …
read more »You studied hard, graduated and sat for your credentials. You landed that awesome job and settled into your routine as a new coder, then became just one of the coders and are well on your way to becoming an experienced coder. You’ve reached the goals you set for yourself, have a great job and are making good money – so where is …
read more »In our careers it can be easy to fall into any number of ruts. We may fall short in pursuing new learning, get caught up in office gossip, quit working toward that credential/degree, or simply not push ourselves to the levels that we know we are capable of …
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by Rebecca Harmon, MPM, RHIA, CCA
Lately I’ve noticed social media outlets pronouncing doom and gloom for workers everywhere with predictions of the rise of robots and AI (artificial intelligence) taking over everything we do. Most of the time I … Read more
read more »by Rebecca Harmon, MPM, RHIA, CCA
My father loved his job. He enjoyed his work, was proud of his skills and abilities and took great pride in the contributions he made every day. When he retired it was not to get away from the ball and chain of his job, but to move on into that period in his life where he could spend more time on things that he chose. Read more
read more »by Rebecca Harmon, MPM, RHIA, CCA
Winter is finally here! For those of us who like the change of seasons, this is a statement of triumph after a dubious entrance into the season last month. Just as we were celebrating, an Arctic blast blew through Pittsburgh and made some of us question why we were so anxious for Winter to arrive. Read more
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