Stephan Jamora learned a life-changing lesson during the three years he worked at a Stockton, California tire store.
鈥淚 learned that I no longer wanted to work in a tire store!鈥� says Jamora, 24. 鈥淲hile I actually enjoyed interacting with the public, I can definitely say that automotive retail is not my passion.鈥�
But discovering what he 诲颈诲苍鈥檛 want to do has helped propel Jamora on a path toward a career he enjoys. 聽 鈥淔or a long time, I thought I鈥檇 become a nurse,鈥� he says. 鈥淲hen I was 14, I helped care for my mother during her cancer treatment. I later attended San Joaquin Delta College to complete some of my general education requirements before applying to nursing school. I studied for the nursing school entry exam, but I failed it twice because I 诲颈诲苍鈥檛 have a solid foundation or a strong working knowledge of medical terminology. I realized I needed to go back to school and gain some experience in the healthcare field.鈥� 聽 Jamora鈥檚 aunt, who works as a medical biller and coder for a major hospital, suggested he could gain that experience by pursuing a career in Medical Billing and Coding. Around the same time, another relative mentioned that she had just toured 黑料不打烊鈥檚 Stockton campus to learn more about the school鈥檚 Massage Therapy program. While on campus, she noticed that Medical Billing and Coding was among the programs Carrington offered. She told Jamora, who scheduled an appointment at the school the following day. After learning more about the certificate program, which features five six-week terms, he enrolled on the spot鈥攁nd started classes the following week. The Medical Billing and Coding program, which is offered at 16 Carrington campuses in seven states, provides students with the specialized skills and knowledge they need to successfully perform medical coding and process medical insurance billing and claims within the health care setting. Class instruction combines theory and practice to help students develop the competencies required to become a medical biller and coder. Students learn to accurately interpret medical records and code the information for submission to insurance companies. In March, Jamora was halfway through his program when the coronavirus pandemic changed everything鈥攊ncluding the way he and his fellow students would complete their studies.
鈥淚 went from attending classes on campus five nights a week to remote learning,鈥� Jamora explains. 鈥淚t was a big adjustment at first, because I really like the energy and interaction that happens in the classroom. I share a house with my fianc茅 and a housemate, and all three of us suddenly found ourselves either working or attending school from home. We created a home office and coordinated a schedule. Every weeknight between 6:00 p.m. and 10:30 p.m., for example, the office was mine. We worked together and did our best to adapt to the situation.鈥�
Since the tire store where he was working was considered an essential service, Jamora also continued working part-time, six mornings a week. It was a stressful, demanding stretch, but one he now realizes had a silver lining. 聽 鈥淭he whole experience taught me how to be more disciplined and focused,鈥� Jamora says. 鈥淚 adapted to online learning pretty quickly. I鈥檓 very detail oriented, and I take a lot of pride is doing things correctly. I also love a challenge, and there are times during class when I felt like a detective, working to analyze and understand a coding issue. There鈥檚 so much more to the field than I ever would have imagined.鈥� 聽 During his final semester, Jamora did an externship at Sierra Health Services, a company that specializes in providing anesthesia and other medical billing services to office and hospital based medical practices and ambulatory surgery centers throughout the United States.
鈥淢y externship is where I was able to start applying in a real-world setting what I鈥檇 learned in class,鈥� says Jamora. 鈥淟ast month, at the end of my five-week externship, Sierra offered me a full-time job. I was thrilled鈥攁nd I was also grateful to be able to give notice at the tire store. I really feel like my hard work and commitment have paid off, and that the program has provided a fast track to a new career.鈥�
Jamora is currently working in the company鈥檚 data entry department, inputting numerical codes specified by coders so that patients and insurance companies reviewing bills for medical procedures and services can more clearly understand the charges. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a great place for me to start,鈥� he says. 聽 While Jamora believes Medical Billing and Coding will be a rewarding career, he says he鈥檚 open to eventually returning to college to earn his B.A. in Healthcare Administration鈥攐r maybe even reviving his dream of becoming a nurse.
鈥淚鈥檓 not sure where my career path will lead, but I know the health care field is where I want to be,鈥� Jamora says. 鈥淎t 24, I have plenty of time to figure it out. There are many ways to provide patient care鈥攁nd they all matter.鈥�
