Hello Faithful Reader,
I hope this edition of the Black Bird’s Eye View finds you well and in good spirits. I am well, outside of being amid a global pandemic. This month, I am introducing you to Camille White-Jackson, also known as Mrs. Jay, who is an expert on becoming a Certified Medical Coder. She's the Curriculum Director and one of the Founders of Absolute Medical Coding Institute (AMCI).
I was curious about how Mrs. Jay got into the field of medical coding, so I asked her to share her story with me. She explained that she enrolled in a two-year program to become a Certified Medical Coder, but was never confident in the way her instructor taught the course. Despite her concerns, her instructor assured her that she had all the information she needed to pass the highly competitive CPC Exam. So, Mrs. Jay scheduled her exam date. The exam was incredibly fast-paced. She had only 5 hours and 40 minutes to answer 150 questions, each presented as a lengthy scenario to be solved in just 2 minutes and 30 seconds. Mrs. Jay failed the exam. It was the first time she'd ever failed in her adult life. Instead of giving up, Mrs. Jay spent the next three weeks developing her own test-taking techniques, which later became trademarks of AMCI:
Key Word Concepts
TAP
MCG Manual
CHUN, an acronym for Circle, Highlight, Underline, and Notate.
Using the techniques she developed, Mrs. Jay was able to quickly and accurately find the correct information in the scenarios on the CPC Exam and look up the corresponding codes in the CPC manual to answer the questions. Her techniques proved successful, and she passed the CPC Exam on her second attempt. She credits her success to the test-taking techniques she created, which would later become trademarks of AMCI. Following her success, Mrs. Jay became an instructor in 2015 (CPC-I).
When I asked Mrs. Jay how she transitioned from being a Certified Medical Coder to teaching others, she shared that the idea was not originally hers. She explained that her peers were eager to learn her techniques after she passed the CPC Exam. Mrs. Jay started teaching her techniques to her peers at her home, and they were able to pass the exam. Eventually, one of her peers suggested that Mrs. Jay had a talent for teaching and should consider it as a career. And that's how the idea of creating AMCI came to be.
At the heart of AMCI lies a spirit of generosity. Initially, the institute gave away an all-inclusive Medical Coding course on YouTube, designed to prepare individuals for the CPC Exam. Thousands of students, both domestic and international, took the course and passed the CPC Exam with flying colors.
I inquired whether there were any prerequisites to enrolling in the CPC course at AMCI. Mrs. Jay responded that no diploma or degree is required, and people from all walks of life have enrolled in the course, ranging from those with medical degrees to individuals with varying levels of education. She explained that the courses and lectures are presented in a simplified manner, covering topics such as Diagnostic coding, Procedural coding, Business of Medicine, Medical Terminology & Anatomy, as well as Test Taking Techniques.
When asked about her inspiration to become an entrepreneur, Mrs. Jay shared that she believes entrepreneurship is a natural trait that some people are born with. She thinks that individuals who build their businesses from scratch are driven by their passion and possess certain innate qualities, such as strong people skills, work ethic, creativity, competitiveness, self-discipline, and confidence. Mrs. Jay believes that these qualities cannot be learned or inspired, but are part of one's nature. As a true entrepreneur, she had tried several business ventures until she found the one that fit her best.
"In 2000, I graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a BA in Communications. It took me longer than expected to finish my degree because I fooled around for five years before life happened. I got married and had kids, and when they all started school, I landed a job as a secretary at the University of Pittsburgh. I used the employee educational benefits to complete my degree and eventually worked my way up to Assistant Director of Student Activities. That's when my entrepreneurial spirit kicked in.
Influences:
There are a few entrepreneurs that I truly respect, like
Larry Page of Alphabet/Google for the positive work environment he created for his team. When you take care of your team, they will take care of your company. I also admire
Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft, for his success and his dedication to giving back to the community, especially to those who don't look like him.
Madame CJ Walker is another person I admire. Although she didn't invent Glossine hair treatment, she improved it through her hard work, passion, commitment to her team, and integrity. She created an empire that benefited not only herself but also her community in many ways. Her "The Truth is what it is, and if you don't like it, keep it moving." attitude is something I also embrace."
My ultimate goal is to establish a foundation that funds Medical Coding Certification for individuals with limited education, allowing them to obtain meaningful careers. Once they become successful, I hope they will remember to help at least one person.
-Mrs. Jay" Finally, I asked Mrs. Jay a question I like to ask everyone:
If placed in a position where you could speak to the masses without any communication barriers and bestow three jewels upon them that would better Humankind...what three thoughts would you share?
Her response was:
Firstly, it's okay to grind and work hard towards your goals. Easy things are not always valuable, so embrace the grind.
Secondly, don't follow opinions, follow facts. People who follow opinions tend to go in circles, but facts will lead you to the point.
And lastly, shine bright and make your creator proud. Always show your best, be positive, and spread love. Just shine, no matter what.
Medical Coders are currently in high demand and are deemed essential businesses. Becoming a Certified Medical Coder does not require any prerequisites. Mrs. Jay's story and insights demonstrate that obtaining a certification in medical coding can lead to a successful and professional career with a good salary. This alone is a compelling reason to consider pursuing this certification.
I hope you found this conversation with Mrs. Jay of Absolute Medical Coding Institute informative and enjoyable.
Until Next Time,
Robin Ess
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