August 27, 2010

(COLUMBIA, MD) — In response to the current economy and high unemployment rates, Howard Community College (HCC) will host an information session on Wednesday, September 1 about online training offered in conjunction with Career Step, a leading online health care education company, for careers in medical coding/billing and transcription.

The current economy has reduced the number of jobs in many industries, resulting in some of the highest unemployment rates in decades. However, health care is one of the few bright spots. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that the healthcare industry will create 3.2 million new jobs before 2018.

Within that industry, the fields of medical transcription and medical coding and billing are also individually growing. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that the medical transcription field will experience 11 percent employment growth, and the medical coding and billing field will experience 20 percent, between 2008 and 2018. HCC’s training quickly enables individuals to gain the education needed to qualify for these jobs.

“Health care is where the jobs are,” said Marilyn Estes, who manages the Career Programs Unit in HCC’s Division of Continuing Education and Workforce Development, “and we can help students prepare for successful careers in medical transcription or medical coding and billing in less than a year.”

The information session will take place at 6:30 p.m. in the Hickory Ridge Building on the HCC campus at 10901 Little Patuxent Parkway in Columbia. The session will provide more information on the health care industry, medical transcription and medical coding careers, and the training programs. Attendees will also learn more about an introductory free laptop offer for those who enroll in the new programs. The session is free, but registration is required to reserve a seat. For more information, visit www.howardcc.edu/ConEd and click on “Courses,” then “Health Care,” or call 443-518-4944.

About HCC

Howard Community College (HCC) is a publicly funded two-year community college serving the educational needs of the citizens and employers in Howard County, Maryland since 1970. With its slogan, “You Can Get There from Here,” the college has forged a variety of partnerships to offer career and transfer programs to over 28,000 students annually at its main campus in Columbia, the Ecker Business Training Center, Laurel College Center, and the historic Belmont Conference Center. Located midway between two major metropolitan areas, Washington DC and Baltimore, MD, Howard Community College is an affordable, community-based institution that has long been recognized for its ability to inspire learning, and the lifelong pursuit of personal and professional goals. Among its many awards is the prestigious U.S. Senate Productivity Award for organizational performance excellence.