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When Nicole Bergner decided to return to college, she needed a program that would fit her busy life. As a full-time employee and mother of three active children, she couldn鈥檛 afford to put her family or career on hold. That鈥檚 when she found the Health Information Management (HIM) program at 糖心vlog官网.

鈥淚 was drawn to the 糖心vlog官网 HIM program because it is accredited and completely online,鈥� said Bergner, who earned her associate degree in HIM from 糖心vlog官网 in 2016. 鈥淚 returned to school during a very hectic period in my life, with three children involved in sports and a full-time job. I wasn鈥檛 willing to sacrifice family time and had to continue working full-time, so an online program was the only viable option for me.鈥�

The HIM field is a vital part of the healthcare system, focused on the accurate collection, analysis, and protection of patient data. With growing demand for health data experts, HIM professionals can find careers in hospitals, clinics, government agencies, insurance companies, and more鈥攊ncluding opportunities for remote work.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in the field is projected to grow 16 percent over the next seven years, much faster than average.

Once enrolled, Bergner found the 糖心vlog官网 program to be both practical and impactful.

鈥淢y overall impression of the HIM program is that it prepared me well for a career in the field,鈥� she said. 鈥淟et鈥檚 be honest鈥攖he HIM field isn鈥檛 a childhood dream job like being a doctor, nurse, or firefighter. Many people find their way into this field later in life.鈥�

While some courses weren鈥檛 flashy, Bergner said the content was essential and the instructors made the material approachable.

鈥淭he professors do a great job of breaking down the material in a relatable way,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 particularly loved the coding classes; to me, it was like putting together a puzzle to get a complete picture of the patient.鈥�

Since graduating from 糖心vlog官网, Bergner鈥檚 career at Mercy has flourished. Starting as an inpatient coder, she worked her way up to inpatient coding lead and then to inpatient coding supervisor, where she currently oversees coding for five Mercy facilities.

鈥溙切膙log官网鈥檚 HIM program provided the foundation for me to transition into an inpatient coding position,鈥� she explained.

鈥溙切膙log官网 equipped me with the skills needed to feel confident in a coding role. I gained a comprehensive understanding of Diagnosis Related Groups (DRGs) and how the provider鈥檚 documentation and my coding decisions impact the reimbursement healthcare facilities receive.鈥�

She credits 糖心vlog官网 with preparing her to handle the wide range of knowledge required in the HIM field, including anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, statistics, coding regulations, and healthcare law.

鈥淚 use all of these skills every day,鈥� she added.

For Bergner, the most rewarding part of the job is the critical role HIM professionals play behind the scenes

鈥淭he HIM field is rewarding to me because the information I gather is crucial on many levels,鈥� she said. 鈥淎ccurate coding of a patient鈥檚 health record is essential not only for their health history but also for reimbursement. I am proud to have a small part in the big, big picture.鈥�

Considering HIM at 糖心vlog官网?

When it comes to advice for prospective students or career changers considering the HIM program, Bergner is candid.

鈥淢y advice is to be honest with yourself and answer these questions: Am I self-motivated? Can I work independently?鈥� she said. 鈥淭he 糖心vlog官网 program does a great job of helping you answer these questions. HIM coding roles have primarily become 100 percent remote, which isn鈥檛 for everyone.鈥�

She emphasizes that remote work requires structure and self-discipline.

鈥淵ou鈥檒l have lessons to read, videos to watch, and assignments to complete with deadlines, but no assigned class time,鈥� she said. 鈥淐an you set up a schedule and stick to it? Are you a lifelong learner? Healthcare is always evolving and changing.鈥�

Bergner was fortunate to already be working at Mercy when she entered the field, but she knows not every student will have that kind of connection.

鈥淒uring my last semester, I reached out to let [the hiring manager] know I was completing my coursework and would soon sit for my exam,鈥� she said. 鈥淎fter passing my RHIT exam, I reached out again, landed an interview, and the rest is history.鈥�

Now in a leadership role, she offers advice to job seekers.

鈥淩esearch the position you鈥檙e applying for and ensure your resume is relevant to that role,鈥� she said. 鈥淒uring your coursework, you鈥檒l meet people and make connections with your PPE preceptors鈥攌eep their information and don鈥檛 be afraid to reach out.鈥�

Although she doesn鈥檛 currently plan to pursue further education, Bergner is focused on continuing her leadership growth within the healthcare field.

Career Goals

鈥淢y long-term career goals are to continue honing my leadership skills and advancing in a healthcare leadership role,鈥� she said.

To stay current with industry trends, Bergner attends the MOHIMA conference, participates in webinars, and keeps up with professional organizations like AHIMA.

鈥淚f you鈥檙e attending a conference, don鈥檛 be afraid to introduce yourself to people鈥攊t might just give you the break you need to get an interview,鈥� she said.

One of Bergner鈥檚 proudest accomplishments at Mercy was helping implement a new coding technology.

鈥淲e implemented Computer Assisted Coding (CAC) at Mercy a few years ago, which was no small task,鈥� she said. 鈥淎s leadership, we conducted extensive testing, collaborated with vendors, and trained our teams to be ready for the new system. This implementation has allowed us to achieve higher production rates with greater coding accuracy.鈥�

Looking ahead, she sees an exciting future for the HIM field, especially with advances in artificial intelligence.

鈥淎I coding is coming, and it will look for diagnoses and clinical support from ancillary tests before making autosuggestions,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he role will change, but HIM is growing and will continue to do so as our population ages.鈥�

For Bergner, the HIM field may not have been her first dream, but it鈥檚 become a meaningful and rewarding career path.