Hi, I am Anastacia, and I am a certified coder and an approved coding instructor with the AAPC!
I have always been intrigued by the medical field. As long as I can remember, all I ever wanted to do was to grow up and be a nurse, more specifically, a labor and delivery nurse. In nursing school, I realized that the clinical side of medicine was not for me. I was devastated because my whole life, I had been preparing to do nursing. Now, what would I do?
I learned about medical coding from a coworker and friend. I called the local school and made an appointment with admissions. I stared to school in the summer quarter.
For the first time in my educational life, everything was clicking, and I got coding!!!! I really enjoyed it. Coding was it…. what I was meant to do!
I was in the basement of the school in the computer lab when Susie came in. Susie was my coding instructor. She asked me what I was doing, I was working on my speech for graduation(this is a whole different story, but yes, I was selected to be a speaker at my graduation, wow!)
Then she looked at me and said I have something to ask you. In a moment, the entire trajectory of my life completely changed.
Susie asked me if I would be interested in coming back to help her teach coding. Wait, what did she just ask me? I had planned to go get a job in a medical office, she is asking me the quiet one to help her teach. I would barely answer questions in class, much less be in front of class.
She then explained she really needed help and couldn’t think of anyone else she would want to have helping her besides me. What an honor. I was in shock, I asked her what I had to do, get a bachelor’s degree.
In June 2008 I graduated with honors with an associates degree in medical coding. In August of 2008 I enrolled at Marshall University to obtain my vachelors degree.
In May 2010, I graduated from Marshall University with my bachelor’s degree. I compiled my resume and drove to Huntington Junior College resume in hand. They hired me on the spot. My first class was the last of June. I was in love!
In August of 2010 I sat for my CPC exam and passed my first attempt.
Huntington Junior College then hired me as a full-time instructor
I taught for a few years, then sat for my instructor certification and became an approved instructor through the AAPC
Teaching is my passion, but I felt the desire to actually work in the field a desire that I could not get rid of, so I began looking, and I found my DREAM job!!!!!
Corporate coder and auditor for Marshall Health in Huntington WV! I began my work April 24, 2017
I am now working on my compliance officer credential to go along with my title as the coding and billing compliance specialist(also known as compliance officer)- passed this exam in 2023
I decided to get this blog back up and running to help inspire others to pursue a career in medical coding, and to educate medical coding.
What you will find here are test taking tips, helpful notes to put in your book, and the latest news from the coding and billing world!!!
Courses available to do medical coding from self study options to a full online course option. Need a refresher or want to know more about anatomy, physiology, term, or pathophysiology? Got these courses too!
I hope that you will consider subscribing and following along!