The CPC certification prepares you to code for physician services. Unless the hospitals that you are applying to have employed physicians, it's unlikely that the job specifications of the hospitals you're looking at meet the skill set that a CPC has. In other words, hospitals need coders who can abstract diagnosis codes and calculate the DRG--although much of it is done by encoders, there is still a huge learning curve with regards to sequencing, the understanding of pathophysiology, identifying POA and hospital-acquired conditions as well as knowing how to phrase a query, how to code ICD-9 procedures and have memorized the AHA Coding Clinic (for the last 30 years) front and back. Those coders are responsible for hundreds of thousands (if not millions) in charges every day. I've been a coder for many years, and I wouldn't even attempt to sell myself as an inpatient coder.
Another consideration: most coding managers (I'm the exception) are certified by AHIMA. So they tend to only want to hire AHIMA-certified coders, probably because they are comfortable with that certification, but also because it's facility-specific. However, some hospitals will hire a CPC-H for outpatient coding, and those that employ physicians often want to employ CPCs. You have to look for the job that your credential prepares you for. A CPC does not prepare you to be an inpatient
facility coder.
I will mention, however, that a degree is strongly recommended. If you don't have at least an AS or AA, you're probably going to be overlooked, particularly for jobs in a large organization. I rarely hire anyone with only a HS education, because besides having coding skills,coders really need to be able to communicate at a college level.
If you want to work at a hospital that employs physicians, you may have to start in billing, registration, scheduling, medical records, reception or unit coordinator. Then you can see about getting into the coding department and working your way up through training. However, you probably won't be able to get a job as an inpatient coder without an AHIMA certification and several years' experience.
Rather than be discouraged, I'd encourage you to look for employment as a
physician coder. It's what you've trained to do..and trying to find work as another kind of coder is going to be difficult. After all, a urologist is not going to look for a job as a gastroenterologist. Good luck.
