In 1985, my healthcare career started with medical billing. After 15 years I thought I needed a change and went into transcription. Shortly thereafter I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and I knew I would not be able to continue in that field. I missed coding and billing, but knew that I would have to be certified to work in the hospital environment which I really enjoyed so I enrolled in the certificate program at Ferris State University. In 2004 I was certified through AHIMA as a Certified Coding Specialist. I have since continued on toward my HIT degree and will hopefully complete it soon.
When we started construction on our new cancer center I started looking through the SEER Training manuals that are online. After what seemed like forever, the center opened in 2005 and the position of tumor registrar was posted. I immediately applied and was hired into that position. I also enrolled in the AHIMA-NCRA Tumor Registrar classes offered online and was certified by NCRA in March of 2008. I have had the pleasure of being involved in a new cancer program from the beginning and we are now looking forward to becoming accredited by the American College of Surgeons, Commission on Cancer.
In addition to my love of shoes, I also enjoy quilting, reading, and gardening. In the winter my husband and I cross-country and downhill ski.
In the summer we fish Lake Michigan.
It is my honor to serve some of the finest people I have had the opportunity to meet and I look forward to knowing you better.