Medical Billing and Coding …going to a Community College… I guess they call us older folks the Non traditional students… … Thinking about going in the fall… we will have (2) sons in a college also… I have been feeling like I never did anything with my life… the jobs I get I do not really care for… I would love to work in an office setting… always been very organized… that sort of thing… I enjoy learning about anything Medical… so getting a certificate here, sounds very doable… my husband has always been the main breadwinner…
But the question is… how many jobs are there for this… will they soon be dying along with Obamacare ??
Health care makes up almost 18% of the US GDP. Coding is a key component to cost management in healthcare. With the baby boomers getting older & sicker, I think it is a good option. People are still going to need healthcare. Hospitals will see sicker patients because people without insurance won’t get routine or preventive care before they are admitted.
That said, I’d ask questions about your particular area. Ask the CC for statistics for the past few years on placement in coding jobs for their graduates (ask the program and the CC career office). Think about your area – are there multiple hospitals? Look at job openings online and in the local paper; for some reason, healthcare jobs were the only ones still running print ads in our local paper.
@intparent’s advice seems spot on. It’s important to be sure that you will find work.
But I want to add a note of pure encouragement. You are never too old for college. Going to community college for a career boost or change is a wonderful idea. Good for you for thinking of changing things around in your life.
@OverRunMama I think @intparent gave great advice in post #1. I just want to ad that I have read many of your posts and while you may not have a college degree, you are wise and compassionate and able to investigate and solve problems. I think you would be great at whatever you set your mind to doing.
and don’t EVER think
because taking care of your family and raising your sons is very important work and you have clearly excelled at that.
My sister was the same age as you when she did this! She landed a position at a great hospital, loved her job, and really expanded her horizons. After raising 4 children and always having worked in a support role to her self-employed spouse, this was so great for her… she suddenly had a big group of co-workers and many of them became friends.
She was nervous about learning computer-based stuff, but she did fine. I hope you go for it, and I wish you much success!
We went to grad school with a guy who was 48 years old. He was a little rusty, to put it mildly! But he survived getting his master’s and PhD in engineering and went on to be a professor for quite a few years. He’s 70 now and does 100 pushups every day and still flies his private plane. I think going to school late kept him young.
Oh my… thank you for your encouragement @GnocchiB … not sure how you read many of my posts… this forum is massive… I get lost just trying to figure out what area I should be posting in… I love to research… I enjoy being detailed… working on a computer… Looking up codes… I could see me enjoying a job like this… been watching a # of you tube videos about it this am…
@Cameo43 - that’s a great story… so glad you came across my thread here… it’s encouraging ! Now to tell my husband when he comes home I did a FAFSA this am…
He doesn’t like to see me down about not having a career… or questioning my self worth …in today’s society of women working, achieving … just wants me to be happy…Enjoy life…which I do … for the most part… I am not bored at home… just FEEL the judgement on those who didn’t garner more skills in their lives …it’s the culture we live in…
He’s always trying to convince me of all I do at home… that I am “enough”, I don’t need a certificate or to make so much to = worth… but yet… I think I can handle this… might as well try… I know he’ll support me… just wants me to be happy…to not look down on my skill-less ness… my last job was in direct care… some people are cut out for that sort of work… I CAN do it…but it’s not something I enjoy…
Winter weather driving will be an issue for going to school and a job-in the winter months- where we live…, we have a treacherous 750 ft uphill, curvy driveway that can turn to ice with some snow…that’s his biggest concern with me working …but life is full of challenges… right!
Also, for medical billing and coding - very good idea. Coding, with the addition od ICD10, has gotten more complex over the past few years and will always be needed.
Question: Everything I will be taking there for Medical Billing & Coding would also prepare me to be a “simple” Secretary , wouldn’t it … I mean one doesn’t have to go to college to be a Secretary… or maybe they do… would need to know some computer applications, Power point. etc… I am just thinking the worst here… In our area… high unemployment … very hard to get decent jobs… sorry to say…
I worked for many years as an academic adviser to adult students returning to college. My two favorite work days every year were the graduation ceremonies - to witness the pride and joy on the faces of the students, their spouses and children at those ceremonies…I’m tearing up just thinking about it.
I don’t see this as a path to secretarial work. But here is the thing. There are a lot fewer secretarial jobs than there used to be. The computer does a lot of things secretaries used to do. There is little need for typing, copying, etc. There are a lot fewer admin positions per employee than there used to be.
A coding/billing degree probably isn’t going to teach you much about the standard Microsoft products (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook). You might be able to fulfill some requirements with classes to teach those skills… or maybe not. They are certainly useful in many jobs, and you would probably benefit from learning them because they are used so widely in general even if they are not part of your degree program.
But in general, a job that requires more training like coding makes some sense. If the barrier to entry is low (basic admin job), then there are a lot more applicants. And a lot of younger applicants will have stronger skills in the basic admin computer skills.
is it wrong for me to say I really hate this about our world today… computers are replacing everyone … with less & less jobs… even the simple cashier is being outsourced… my husband’s job is almost being outsourced… his company is paying billions on some computer thing that is supposed to detect problems so the working man who inspects those things - thousands have been laid off…very very discouraging… . then there is just more judgement on those who can’t find jobs …just hit a nerve there… my husband didn’t get laid off thankfully …though he was just lucky.,
I don’t know anything about the job market for this, but I just wanted to send you a note of encouragement. My aunt was a SAHM who decided to get her AA degree, one class at a time, from her local CC. She didn’t drive and had to take the bus back and forth each day. She finally graduated and got that degree the same year that I got my BA and we were all very, very proud of her.
I think to be honest, you have to embrace it to an extent. It isn’t going to go back. If his job is at risk, that seems like more of a reason for you to learn some new skills so you are as employable as possible. Coding/billing is a good area to be in. Maybe you could take some classes in Word, Excel, or Outlook if you don’t know them this spring. Sometimes those are available for free or low cost as evening courses if you are working now. Then start the coding/billing program in the fall like you mentioned in your first post.
Here’s my story…
Worked 7+ years in management/technology consulting after my B.A. back in '90s. After giving birth to my oldest son, who has special needs, I stayed home and homeschooled both my kids through middle school for 15 years. Once the youngest started H.S., I knew I wanted to go back to work - but not consulting or software development, due to the frequent travel and long hours. I thought about my skills, researched careers that were in demand, and decided to go back in my early 40s for a master’s degree in a field that is in demand and that built upon my prior experience, interests and skills. Going back to school was a great segue to going back to work, and really helped me to catch up on the latest technologies/jargon, etc. It took a few months to find my current job, and I took a pay cut from what I had been making 15 years earlier (ouch!), but three years later after a promotion I am now back to my prior salary level. Motto: Never too late!! I’m already thinking about my next career move, once the youngest goes to college next year!
I’m not the go-getter you are Carlabadbruin… My dream was to be a stay at Home Mom & have a family… most would just laugh at that today… all feminists,you’ll never see them using someone like me to speak for their cause… I may be a good worker… but ambition was never what it was about… having enough to live,… get debt free and enjoy family time was more my focus all these years… to be completely honest…
I have to weigh … am I doing this “just to prove I am not worthless , valueless” to society … or because I really WANT TO DO THIS… not sure I have that clarity yet…
You are never too old for college. I’m a full time student, 46 year old mom with one kid going to college this fall and another one next fall. I should have my bachelor’s degree this spring, after 25 years and 10 different colleges (lots of transfers for jobs for H). Going back to school full time was the best thing I ever did for me and my kids, and my husband is very proud of me.
So yeah, go get it! Don’t be surprised if the first semester is really tough, though. I only took one class to ease back into it, and it was really challenging (that was fall 2015).
ETA: I was also a stay at home mom, although I did work part time when the kids were in elementary and middle school at a newspaper (editing and proofreading). Don’t worry about what other people think or say about your choices-who cares about them? Like Coco Chanel used to say, the people who matter don’t mind, and the people who mind, don’t matter.
Do what’s right for you and your family.
eta: I consider myself a feminist, btw, and I am fiercely protective of EVERYONE getting to choose what’s important and meaningful to them, not to judge their choices. People who judge the choices women make or tell them what they should do-that’s not feminism-that’s someone with an agenda using feminism as a cloak.
I think going to school late kept him young.