The health care industry has added four million jobs over the past decade.   Specifically consider the field of MEDICAL CODING.  In 2013 there will be a transition to an upgraded coding system and a recent Forbes article predicted that those in demand medical coder jobs may earn up to $80,000.  (Sounds high to me, but that’s what the article said.)  Most community colleges offer training.  DMACC offers online or late afternoon and evening courses and their website states “Medical Insurance and Coding is one of the fastest growing medical office specialties.”  Coders take physician supplied medical diagnoses and transfer to codes for purpose of reimbursement and recordkeeping.   The upgraded ICD-10 codes have been seen with trepidation.  However, 3M Health Information Systems claims the expanded choices will help physicians with diagnosis identification and coders will not be burdened with  learning thousands of new codes.   Nevertheless, the U.S. Department of Labor is projecting a shortage of coders in the near future due to retirements and also the impending coding transfer.  Comparisons have been made to the Y2K computer programmer hiring phenomenon.              So if you’re looking for job, a career move, or continuing education after you work your day job – check out Medical Coding!   By the way, some coders work out of their homes.              Want a job?  Get trained!  You’ll have a job!              Sources:  3M Health Information Systems; DMACC; Dept of Labor; Forbes