Coyne College

Reasons to Consider Trade School over College

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Let’s face it — the four-year education system in the United States isn’t what it used to be. Despite the best intentions of our founding fathers in establishing a land in which quality education can be achieved for all, the four-year college degree route is increasingly ineffective in preparing graduates for navigating the complexities of the real world.

Thankfully there are many alternatives available to anyone who remains passionate about investing in their education, but who also may prefer a different approach than the standard cookie-cutter model.

Among these, trade school—sometimes known as vocational training—is a mode of higher education that allows an individual to focus on developing the hands-on technical skills that are needed for a wide variety of high dignified and respectable jobs working in a more active setting (rather than a passive setting, behind a computer screen.)

There are numerous benefits to trade school, but what’s most important to note is that if your heart’s not in it, you will likely not be successful. In other words, you need to be able to be completely zoned into the trade that you will be pursuing. In other words, it’s important to focus on the Why behind your choice to enter trade school. If your only goal is to get a job, then that’s not the end of the world — but if your goal is to find a rewarding career that’s rooted in a foundation of vocational training, then you will be setting yourself up for success.

Get Your Degree in Less Time
One of the major benefits of trade school is that you are able to bypass the traditional schooling system, which can often end up doing a better job of indebting graduates rather than finding them rewarding jobs.
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Improved Classroom Environments
When you attend a trade school, you won’t find yourself inside large lecture halls with hundreds of other students.
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Receive Hands-on Training
By earning a degree from a trade school or vocational school (rather than a four-year college), you set yourself up for success in the real world by actively exposing yourself to hands-on learning.
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Benefits of Trade School

Get Your Degree in Less Time

One of the major benefits of trade school is that you are able to bypass the traditional schooling system, which can often end up doing a better job of indebting graduates rather than finding them rewarding jobs. By obtaining your degree in a shorter amount of time, your time is freed up to think more about the actual basis behind the work that you seek to perform throughout your career.

Improved Classroom Environments

When you attend a trade school, you won’t find yourself inside large lecture halls with hundreds of other students. In most cases, you will more commonly find yourself inside of a location that allows for more one-to-one interactions with both your instructors and the students. If you are the kind of person that learns better in that kind of an environment, then you will more likely thrive inside of a trade school setting rather than a four-year college.

Receive Hands-on Training

By earning a degree from a trade school or vocational school (rather than a four-year college), you set yourself up for success in the real world by actively exposing yourself to hands-on learning. In addition, it’s possible that you may learn some skills that apply to future jobs as well. If you are seeking to work in a job that involves working with your hands—in a way other than simply tapping a keyboard—the skills you learn in a trade school simply allow you to compound this education and experience over time.

Earn More Job Placement Opportunities

It’s a well-known fact that many graduates of four-year colleges find themselves drowning in debt and unable to find a viable job after graduation. But what’s less well known is that trade schools offer job placement opportunities that can help assuage these dynamics in a meaningful way. These opportunities are those that can be found in externships and other valuable modes of employment while still in college. Paired with the hands-on education that you receive during vocational school, the real-world benefits of attending trade schools simply cannot be beat.

Closing

If you are interested in investing in your education while still considering what the future holds for you and your career, then consider the benefits that trade school could offer. Many trade training programs exist across the country, but Coyne College in Chicago’s Loop is a particularly notable location. Coyne College’s comprehensive course offerings and commitment to learning—as well as the character of the people that end the campus—make it a highly desirable location for many aspiring trade workers to earn a high-value and inexpensive education.

How to Become a Certified Pharmacy Technician?

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Becoming a pharmacy technician isn’t easy. The goal requires a thorough understanding of both quantitative and qualitative aspects of both business and science. Due to the unique combinations of skill sets this requires, it’s important that anyone interested in receiving pharmacy technician training first understand the holistic means by which people typically grow into the role of pharmacy technician.

Why Become a Pharmacy Technician

Before understanding how to do things, it’s usually better to understand why you want to do things in the first place. In this context, you may be asking yourself, “Why become a pharmacy technician?” If you are asking yourself this question, then it’s worth considering the amount of growth that has taken root all across the pharmaceutical industry. In short, advances in biomedical engineering has led to no shortage of drugs that can help people improve the quality of their lives. As a pharmacy technician, you are afforded the privilege of knowing these drugs well enough to help distribute them in an orderly, efficient, and responsible manner for all stakeholders. In the age of “essential workers”, it’s important to be mindful of the fact that there is scarcely a more essential role in the evolving global technological society than the valiant duties of a pharmacy technician.

Step 1: Check Your Passion

The first step to becoming a pharmacy technician is to have a strong passion for the pharmaceutical industry. Thankfully, this is fairly straightforward since the pharmaceutical industry is so pervasive throughout the global economy, as well as relevant to the broader education system. In short, you enjoy learning about biology, chemistry, and mathematics—and you like helping people overcome their ailments—then the life of a pharmacy technician could be in your future.

Step 2: Learn About the Industry

If you find yourself considering whether you have the chops to be a pharmacy technician, then you’ll want to learn as much as possible about what the job of a pharmacy technician entails. In order to do this, you’re going to need to research into the field of technical pharmacy operations. You’ll also need to learn about how to optimally receive training from an experienced professional or teams of professionals who are knowledgeable about the requirements for becoming a pharmacy technician. This will ensure that you make the right decision regarding whether the career could be right for you.

Step 3: Receive Formalized Training

After you’ve done your research, the third step for becoming a pharmacy technician is to receive formalized pharmacy training. This will enable you to begin learning about the sort of hands-on experience you will need in order to work in a professional pharmacy environment. There are many certificate programs available, but the programs at Coyne College are known for offering the most advanced and comprehensive training on the issues that are most essential to your success.

Step 4: Complete an Externship

The fourth step for joining the booming industry of pharmacy technicians is to complete an externship to gain experience in a real-world pharmaceutical environment. This step of the training process is somewhat unique — whereas an internship allows someone to work within a company, an externship means that you work outside the company that employs the actual pharmacy. Oftentimes, these externships are made through personal contacts, although sometimes technical certification programs can include externship opportunities as well.

Step 5: Make Contacts in the Industry

Depending on your anticipated career trajectory, it’s worth considering whether the next steps are those that are right for you in your job as a pharmacy technician. In short, whereas continually making new contacts in the pharmaceutical industry is something that we should all aim to achieve in order to achieve a thriving professional culture, it may not be necessary to go our of your way making connections inside the industry — especially if you know that you want to be a technician, not an inside salesperson for the pharmaceutical industry (although in some cases the lines can be blurry).

Step 6:

Ultimately, you’ll want to develop the key instincts needed to succeed as a professional who has received specialized pharmaceutical training. This entails reading up on the physical, mental and emotional stresses that a pharmaceutical workplace can lead to. Once you’ve done that, consider applying to a pharmacy environment that best accommodates what you’re looking for after your pharmacy technician training. You’ll want to begin applying to programs that can best suit your interests, such as hospitals, national chain drug stores, and big box retailers — although other suitable locations also include mail-order pharmacies and independent pharmacies.

Read our other Interesting Articles Here!!

Closing Thoughts: Benefits of the Role

One of the most important aspects of being a pharmacy technician is the unprecedented job security that being a pharmacy technician is poised to entail for the foreseeable future. As mentioned toward the beginning of this article, it is easy to see how the natural growth of the pharmaceutical industry paves the way for an industry where pharmacy technicians will find themselves employable for decades to come. That said, it is also worth considering whether the job is right for everyone, since long days in a pharmaceutical setting can be emotionally taxing if you are not properly prepared.

Coyne College Chicago offers an in-demand Pharmacy technician program at the Chicago downtown campus. Upon completion of Coyne College’s pharmacy technician program in Chicago, graduates can be qualified for entry-level positions in retail or hospital pharmacies.

Common HVAC AirFlow Issues: How to Fix them?

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Let’s face it: No one wants to deal with HVAC airflow issues. HVAC (short for “heating, ventilation, and air conditioning”), may seem like a topic that is easily addressable when approached through a holistic perspective of how air conditioning functions inside of a house. Unfortunately this is specialized knowledge that is mostly limited to the minds of the lucky folks who have received specialized HVAC training. But while many HVAC airflow issues can only be addressed by these professionals, some of the most common HVAC air flow problems don’t require HVAC training.

Obstructed Air Supply Registers

Supply registers are crucial components of every HVAC system that are often overlooked when diagnosing common HVAC airflow issues. Registers are essentially the decorative covers that sit on top of vents — oftentimes they feature open-and-shut venting functionality. It may seem like common sense, but sometimes these registers can be obstructed by furniture or artwork. Before you begin troubleshooting your HVAC issues, check to make sure all of your registers are open and not partially covered by anything else in your home..

Blocked Air Filtration Systems

Sometimes air filters can get clogged and lead to airflow that is drastically reduced both in terms of quality and quantity. No one wants weak, dirty, and/or potentially stinky air being blown in their direction — let alone being circulated all throughout your home or office building! In order to fix a blocked air filter, simply install a new air filter. The instructions for how to install a new air filter vary depending on the make and manufacturer, but oftentimes there are directional guides that accompany purchased air filters.

Leaking Ducts

On the opposite end of things, HVAC systems can also be inefficient. If air conditioning vents are improperly sealed or not properly connected, then this will ultimately result in less air being circulated around your home. In order to fix leaking ducts, you’ll first need to locate the origin of these leaks. Sometimes this is a task better suited to professionals, but this often depends on the size and complexity of the HVAC system. A good rule of thumb is that if you begin investigating leaking ducts but cannot identify the source of these ducts, then it is probably a good idea to call a professional who specializes in airflow issues.

Cleaning Dirty Coils

It’s important to understand that air conditioning units contain condenser coils; these coils release the heat that is removed from the rooms in our building or home. If your air conditioning unit is located outside, then these coils are exposed to weather and the elements. They can also get dirty enough that they do not release the heat. If this is the case, then you will notice that there is far less heat than is necessary to warm the home to your liking. Let’s face it: No one wants to deal with HVAC airflow issues. HVAC (short for “heating, ventilation, and air conditioning”), may seem like a topic that is easily addressable when approached through a holistic perspective of how air conditioning functions inside of a house. Unfortunately this is specialized knowledge that is mostly limited to the minds of the lucky folks who have received specialized HVAC knowledge. But while many HVAC airflow issues can only be addressed by these professionals, some of the most common HVAC air flow problems don’t require HVAC training.

Refilling Low Refrigerant

Sometimes if the air isn’t cool enough in your home, then the simple need is to refill the air conditioning system’s refrigerant. Refilling low refrigerant is something that often can be done by anyone — but first it’s worth checking with a professional to make sure you are refilling the refrigerant to the correct levels. If you are at all unsure about how to optimally refill the refrigerant needed for what your HVAC system needs, then your best bet will be to schedule at least a short ac unit consultation with your HVAC technician.

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AC Repair and Troubleshooting Guide

If it’s 90 degrees outside and humid, you undoubtedly look forward to being nice and cool in your airconditioned home. What would you do if the air conditioning suddenly went out? Would you know how to do AC repair? Take a look at this AC repair and troubleshooting guide because it could show you how

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October 16, 2020 No Comments
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hvac program

Everything You Wanted to Know About HVAC Installation

An air conditioner operates by taking in warm air and pulling it over a coolant system. In an HVAC system, there is also a heating component that can be adjusted depending on whether you want your home to be cooler or warmer. HVAC Installation Guide The air conditioning unit is a key component of your

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August 18, 2020 No Comments
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Avoid Costly Repairs Using These Helpful HVAC Maintenance Tips

Chicago weather runs a range of seasons and weather conditions, sometimes within a span of 24 hours. That means high-performing HVAC systems that can be started at the drop of a hat are key to maintaining comfortable indoor conditions. However, they can’t optimize your home’s comfort if they don’t work or need repair. Repairs can

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July 11, 2018 No Comments
When to Consider Hiring a Professional

Although there are many common HVAC airflow issues that can be solved by nonprofessionals, there are still many more that require advanced HVAC training such as what can be learned from Chicago’s Coyne College. If you find yourself still unable to solve the airflow issue that is causing you and your loved ones trouble, then you should consider contacting an HVAC specialist. If you are unsure how to evaluate the quality of your professional’s education—or if you are simply curious about what such programs can offer—then it’s worth taking a look at the training program offered by Coyne College’s HVAC program.

Troubleshooting Home Electrical Issues: A Quick Guide

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Whether you’re a new homeowner or you’ve been dealing with homeownership issues all your life, it’s helpful to know how to troubleshoot home electrical issues. In the course of your time owning a home, you’ll inevitably end up encountering a wide variety of issues related to the electricity flowing through your house. In order to help disseminate education on these topics, we’ve created a guide featuring some of the most common issues that homeowners run into with regard to electricity and their homes.

Flickering Lights
Troubleshooting home electrical issues involves knowing how to address a wide range of electrical problems in your household.
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Frayed Electrical Cords
Sometimes flickering lights can be a symptom of frayed electrical cords.
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Tripped Circuit Breakers
We've all done it — we trip a circuit breaker because we use too much electricity from a single outlet.
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Flickering Lights

Troubleshooting home electrical issues involves knowing how to address a wide range of electrical problems in your household. Flickering lights can indicate any number of things, but they most often result from a weakened connection between the lights and the source of electricity. These issues are important to take seriously, they can indicate the source of eventual arcing, potentially resulting in sparking, overheating, and fire. In many cases, your best bet will be to thoroughly inspect your electrical cords to ensure there are no loose or corroded connections causing the problem. In addition, be sure to check if there are any frayed electrical cords — sometimes these can be a determining factor in lighting that persists without flickering.

Frayed Electrical Cords

Sometimes flickering lights can be a symptom of frayed electrical cords. This is something that can be fixed in fairly short order, however it does require a bit of handy work to get right. If you notice frayed cords or exposed wires on any of your electrical appliances, this is a sign of unsafe wiring. Be sure to avoid using these items until they are fixed — but be on high alert, since fixing these wiring problems can also often be a highly dangerous activity. In most cases, you’re better off requesting the assistance of someone who has undergone the rigors of an electrical training program and the licensing requirements that such a profession entails (a topic we’ll return to later).

Tripped

We’ve all done it — we trip a circuit breaker because we use too much electricity from a single outlet. Thankfully, this issue is as common as the fix is straightforward: Simply locate your circuit breaker and flip the switch that has been tripped due to overuse. Remember that circuit breakers are there for your safety! In order to prevent an electrical fire or disaster, breakers close (or “break” or “trip”) the fuse switch when a homeowner has exceeded the voltage that the breaker was designed to handle. In order to prevent this from happening in the future, you’ll need to identify exactly what ultimately led the circuit to fail. Sometimes, that can entail tracing a short circuit.

Tracing a Short Circuit

Tracing a short circuit is probably the most challenging home electrical issue to troubleshoot. Because the source of a short circuit could be any number of different things, this problem is a multistep process. First, turn off all the wall switches, and then unplug every appliance from the outlets stemming from the dead circuit. Then, reset the circuit breaker and the fuse. If the circuit still goes dead right away, that could indicate that the problem lies in a short circuit in a receptacle or switch.

After resetting the circuit breaker or resetting the fuse, check to see if the circuit trips. If the new fuse does not blow immediately, you’ve likely encountered the source of the problem. The result could be that there is a short circuit in a light fixture or a receptacle controlled by the switch — or it could be that there is a short circuit in the wiring of the switch. In such instances, you’ll need to replace or repair a faulty switch, fixture or wiring; this is a task oftentimes best suited to a professional.

Finally, if turning on a wall switch does not cause a problem, then the trouble is likely to be in the lamps or appliances. In order to test each one individually, try plugging these in one at a time. Then, move some of the devices to another circuit. If the circuit still goes dead after you simply plug in a device, then you have likely identified the problem. Be sure to check the cord first, however — and consider having an appliance repair person check the appliance’s switch and other electrical parts.

Conclusion

Although electrical shortages are not uncommon in the world of home ownership, there is no shortage of content online about troubleshooting home electrical issues. At the end of the day, one needs to know enough to get the job done — and that includes staying safe. Electrical trade programs such as those offered by Chicago’s Coyne College have grown in popularity in recent years, and there is scarcely a better way to ensure the solution of your electrical needs than by employing the services of a graduate of an electrical trade program.

AC Repair and Troubleshooting Guide

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If it’s 90 degrees outside and humid, you undoubtedly look forward to being nice and cool in your airconditioned home. What would you do if the air conditioning suddenly went out? Would you know how to do AC repair? Take a look at this AC repair and troubleshooting guide because it could show you how to fix AC problems—and save yourself a lot of money.

Before you begin your residential air conditioner repair, you should know what the HVAC system contains and how the parts work:

  • Air return: the vents on the walls that allow air to return to be cooled
  • Exhaust outlets: similar to a stove fan, it draws out hot or humid air through ductwork, allowing fresh air to move in
  • Filter: the inexpensive cardboard-backed filter that traps contaminants like dust, pollen, and mold
  • Ducts: a network of passageways that transports air in or out, conditioning it as it flows
  • Compressor: the motor in the outdoor unit of a central AC system that circulates the refrigerant through the coils to cool your home
  • Coils: the evaporator coil (inside the house) pulls heat through the air to cool it; the condenser coil (outside) regulates the temperature of the AC’s refrigerant
  • Blower: activated by the thermostat, it engages the fan and blows the cooled air throughout the house

Common AC problems and what to do about them

Problem:

  • High energy bills
  • Limited airflow from vents
  • Ice on refrigerant lines
  • Poor cooling
  • Water leaking from AC unit

Potential fix:
Check your air filter. Does it look clogged? Covered with dirt and dust? Replace the filter. Most are cardboard frames around foam or mesh that trap the debris. A good rule of thumb is to replace it every 30 to 90 days.

Problem:

  • AC not working/won’t turn on
  • Warm or hot air (not cool) coming from vents

Potential fix:
Make sure the thermostat is on “cool” and not “heat.” Also, check the electrical panel and look for tripped circuit breakers. If the one for AC is marked “off,” then try turning it “on.”

Problem:

  • High energy bills
  • Warm air coming through vents
  • Inadequate cooling
  • Lots of repairs

Potential fix:
Check your outdoor AC unit. There could be trapped debris or dirt. Try rinsing it with a hose on a gentle setting. If there’s a thick layer of dirt on the condenser, you should call a professional.

Problem:

  • Icing on refrigerant lines
  • Blower motor issues
  • Damaged compressor
  • Frozen evaporator coil
  • Poor cooling

Potential fix:
Check the supply vents inside your house (even in the unused room) to see if they’re covered or blocked. Vents that are intentionally closed actually cause more problems and don’t save energy.

AC Repair and Troubleshooting Guide

Maintenance tips that could help your AC work efficiently

  • Check and replace air filters regularly.
  • Keep the outdoor unit free of debris and dirt and remove anything that might block the airflow.
  • Remove the condenser’s fan cage and use a wet or dry vac to clean away debris.
  • Clean the fins and straighten bent ones with a butter knife; then brush and hose the inside.
  • Clean the drain pan on the interior unit.
  • Change the blower filter every six months.
  • Dust the evaporator coil with a soft brush and spray it with no-rinse coil cleaner.
  • Clean indoor registers and air ducts with a damp cloth and vacuum away dust.
  • Listen for odd noises and see if there’s a loose bolt or debris caught in the outdoor unit.
  • Turn off the humidifier’s water supply in the summer or turn it back to 35-45 percent.
  • Give it a break when temperatures are not extreme and turn off the cooling; use the fans instead.

Just like with most things of value, if you properly maintain your HVAC system it’s probably going to work more efficiently and last longer. If you schedule regular checkups, you may be able to avoid costly air conditioner repair.

Interested in HVAC training programs in Chicago? Contact Coyne College and train to become an in-demand HVAC-R technician in less than a year.

Why Becoming a Medical Assistant is a Great Career Choice

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Healthcare is a rapidly growing field because the U.S. population is getting older and as people age, they require more medical care. That means jobs are in high demand. According to O*NET OnLine, the projected job growth for medical assistants in the U.S. between 2018-2028 is 23 percent, which is faster than average for other jobs. A medical assisting career could launch you into the healthcare field, giving you what you need for an exciting future.

Why is a medical assistant career such a great choice?

It’s so versatile. Part, A medical assistant is a jack of all trades—part clinician, part administrative assistant, part counselor, and part comforter—who helps doctors in private practice, hospitals, outpatient clinics, and more. Medical assistants are filling expanded and enhanced roles as healthcare follows the trend toward a more team-based approach to patient care.

A medical assistant can be a lifesaver to a physician, who needs to focus on diagnoses and treatment. A medical assistant can help by performing several clinical and administrative duties, including administering medications, checking vital signs, drawing blood, removing sutures, noting patient medical histories, processing insurance claims, and more.

What’s the work environment like?

You’ll never be bored when you follow a medical assisting career path because your responsibilities are so diverse. You can choose the hectic pace of a hospital’s surgical ward or trauma center or slow it down in a private physician’s practice. If you choose the latter, you may have an expanded duty list that is as much administrative as it is clinical or patient-facing.

Why Becoming a Medical Assistant is a Great Career Choice
A medical assisting career could launch you into the healthcare field, giving you what you need for an exciting future.
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What’s the work environment like?
You’ll never be bored when you follow a medical assisting career path because your responsibilities are so diverse.
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Where can medical assistants work?
As a medical assistant, you can work in a variety of locations besides hospitals, clinics, and doctors' offices:
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Where can medical assistants work?

As a medical assistant, you can work in a variety of locations besides hospitals, clinics, and doctors’ offices:

  • Retirement facility
    The baby boomers are retiring in droves, and many are moving to nursing homes or assisted living facilities. They’re not necessarily ill, but they are elderly and need assistance. Medical assistants can help administer their medication, check their vitals, help with daily hygiene, handle basic physiotherapy and help them get around.
  • Palliative care facility
    Palliative care facilities help cancer patients relieve the symptoms that come with chemotherapy and radiation, giving them a chance to have a better quality of life. A medical assistant can help patients with their daily care, administer medication, change dressings, and lend support to them and their families.
  • Home healthcare
    If you’re looking for flexibility in your career, choosing to work in home healthcare may be ideal for you. Many people who need regular health monitoring choose to stay in their homes rather in a nursing home or rehabilitation facility. They may also need post-hospitalization follow-up care. A medical assistant can fulfill those needs by providing care in the patient’s home.
  • Military and government Veteran’s hospitals, military bases, rehab facilities, the battlefield, and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs all need medical assistants to help teams of healthcare professionals. If you work for a specific branch of the military, you may be expected to complete basic training that is expected of all military personnel, along with additional training.
  • Insurance companies
    For careers in MA that are not as patient-centric, you may prefer to work for an insurance company. You will use more of the administrative skills you’ve learned, but you’ll also know medical terminology and basic medical care. You would be a valuable resource to an insurance company because you would understand patient medical records and be adept at organizing hospital admissions, lab services, and insurance claims.
  • Psychiatric or behavioral health facilities
    You could help patients recovering from addiction or substance abuse or assist with treatment planning, patient assessment, counseling, or family and patient education.
Because of the pandemic, is now the best time to train?

COVID-19 has brought unprecedented changes to us all, and medical assistant roles during COVID are expanding because of their versatile skillsets. Medical assistants can help combat COVID by supporting frontline doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers. They may help with COVID-19 testing, taking swabs of symptomatic people. They might be needed to document testing; lift, position, and push patients on stretchers; monitor patient status; or perform CPR. In some states, medical assistants are helping in daycare facilities, watching the children of frontline personnel. They might also help in food services or housekeeping to help out in an all-hands-on-deck situation.

What if I don’t know what type of healthcare career I want?

Medical assisting can be a great springboard for other medical careers. Training is so broad that you get a foundation in all types of things, such as:

  • Medical terminology
  • Anatomy and physiology
  • Pharmacology
  • Basic insurance and billing
  • Clinical, lab and administrative procedures
  • Front-office practices, including coding and billing procedures
  • Patient relations and essential workplace skills
  • Medical law and ethics
  • Technology in the medical office

You could go on to any number of healthcare careers, including nursing, pharmacology, medical billing and coding, human resources, accounting, or electronic health records (EHR).

Where can I get in Chicago?

Enroll in the Coyne College medical assistant program. In Coyne’s 10-month diploma program, you’ll have comprehensive training that covers clinic, laboratory, and administrative procedures, preparing you for an entry-level position as a medical assistant. Additionally, you’ll participate in an MA externship that gives you a chance to practice your newly learned skills in an actual medical facility, working with real patients.

At Coyne College, you’ll get hands-on learning from instructors who are all industry professionals, financial aid for those who qualify, career services, and job placement assistance.

Contact Coyne College today and train to become a medical assistant. Classes begin September 28, 2020!

How to Become a Medical Coder: Your Complete Guide

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People choose careers for a variety of reasons. For some, it’s to be part of a growing industry with an in-demand job. For others, it’s for a competitive salary, flexible hours, the option of working from home, or just one that is rewarding. Still, others want a career they can get into with just months of training rather than years. Becoming a medical coder or biller can give you a career that is all that and more.

What do medical billers and coders do?

They keep doctors and nurses on track and organized by compiling, processing, and maintaining patient records in a way that is consistent with healthcare system requirements. The role is vitally important to the healthcare industry as a liaison among medical providers, patients, and insurance companies. Many times, the titles (and duties) are intertwined, but each has specific duties.

The medical coder job requirements don’t involve patient treatment or diagnosis. However, he or she does need to have a basic understanding of anatomy, physiology, and pharmacology. Each diagnosis, treatment, or procedure has an assigned industry-standard code that the medical biller must accurately document in the patient’s health record. A medical biller, on the other hand, takes the coded information and uses it to submit claims to insurance companies so they can bill patients. If you work in a small office, you may be a medical coder/biller and do the job of both.

medical-billing-coding-coynecollege

What are these codes a medical biller and coder needs to know?

The codes are listed in the International Classification of Diseases (ICD), which is an organized way of telling a patient’s entire medical care story and his or her interaction with a doctor and/or hospital. The World Health Organization (WHO) created the ICD in 1948 as the gold standard for reporting diseases and medical conditions. The thousands of codes are globally recognized, so it’s easy to share and compare patient medical information among various hospitals, regions, and providers. They also ensure that the billed procedure is consistent with the patient’s diagnosis. For example, if you code conjunctivitis (“pink eye”) as a reason to request an x-ray, the claim would probably be rejected. A clerical error on the part of the medical coder—such as showing that a patient with a known allergy to penicillin received penicillin for an infection rather than another antibiotic—could result in serious harm to the patient.

In addition to ICD codes, a medical coder or biller needs to know CPT® (Current Procedural Terminology) coding. These five-character codes are the U.S. standard for the way healthcare professionals report and document medical, surgical, lab, radiology, anesthesiology, and E/M (evaluation and management) services. Some are fairly simple, but others go into more detail, so it’s critical that the coder pay attention to detail.

What are the duties of a medical coder and biller?

The coder looks at the patient’s chart to see the doctor’s notes, lab and radiology results and then assigns the ICD and/or CPT code that corresponds to the service performed, documenting it in the chart. The billing portion of the job may include the following tasks:

• Obtain referrals and pre-authorizations for required treatment procedures
• Verify insurance benefits and eligibility for treatments, hospitalization, and procedures
• Review patient bills for accuracy
• Use medical billing software to submit claims and bills
• Research and appeal denied claims
• Follow-up on unpaid claims
• Communicate with patients about billing issues or to set up payment plans
• Liaise with insurance companies

Are there any specific personal skills a medical biller and coder should have?

There are many personal skills you should possess if you want to do your job well:

• Attention to detail to enter the right code and check bills for accuracy
• Excellent communications to converse with insurance companies, patients and healthcare colleagues
• Good customer service to speak diplomatically and accurately to patients and insurance companies
• Accounting and bookkeeping basics to understand billing statements and reconcile them
• Computer ability to be able to use medical billing software
• Medical terminology to understand if a code seems incompatible with a diagnosis or treatment
• Problem-solving to handle discrepancies or inconsistencies in billing
• Teamwork ability to interact with other medical staff members

mbc-skills

What’s the job outlook for medical coders and billers?

According to O*NETOnLine, the employment rate for medical records and health information technicians (billers and coders) is expecting to grow 11 percent through 2028, which is must faster than average for other occupations.

What if I want to know how to become a medical coder?

You must receive medical billing/coding training if you want to become a medical coder. Enroll in Coyne College medical billing and coding programs for an education that teaches you medical terminology, health records management, insurance procedures, billing software, and medical coding, as well as business communications and office administration. Your allied health training is 48 weeks of medical programs in Chicago that includes six weeks of electronic health records instruction—important in today’s real-world healthcare settings. Additionally, your hands-on training includes an externship that gives you the opportunity to learn in a professional setting in the Chicago area and helps you develop your skills and build self-confidence.

Contact Coyne College today to train as a medical billing and coding specialist. Classes begin September 28.

Pharmacy Technician Industry Opportunities

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As our population ages and baby boomers enter retirement in droves, the demand for healthcare professionals is increasing exponentially. That means there is a demand for pharmacy technicians to dispense their medications—especially in Chicago, a hub of medical care. Pharmacy technician jobs opportunities can be found in many workplaces—including some you may not have thought about.

Retail or chain pharmacies

Most pharmacy technician jobs—about 70 percent—are found in retail or chain pharmacies, such as CVS, Walgreen’s, Rite Aid and Walmart. These jobs offer flexible hours and workdays. The majority of a pharmacy tech’s day will be spent processing and dispensing prescriptions, but other tasks may include managing inventory or handling patient and order information.

Hospitals

About 17 percent of pharmacy technicians—usually certified technicians—work in hospitals. Although they spend the bulk of their time preparing prescriptions as they would in retail pharmacies, in hospitals they prepare single doses of medication. They may also fill syringes or prepare IV solutions for short- and long-term or ER patients.

Managed care facilities

Nursing homes and assisted living and mental health facilities all require pharmacy technicians to prepare and dispense medications for patients. Duties are similar to those in hospitals because medications are prepared as single doses. However, this can be a very routine job, as patients often need their meds two or three times a day.

Pharmacy Technician Industry Opportunities

Compounding pharmacies

A pharma career could lead to work in a compounding pharmacy, where certified technicians prepare compound (custom) prescriptions. Some of these smaller, independently owned pharmacies require their pharmacy technicians to have specific certification—and excellent math skills—to do their job. Because there are few of these pharmacies in a region, they usually pay very well.

Mail-order pharmacies

Pharmacy techs who work in high-volume mail-order pharmacies should be tech savvy because common meds (heart and cholesterol, blood thinners, painkillers) are dispensed by machines. The technician needs to learn the software to fill the machine, fix jam and reload label paper. He or she usually works on a computer to input prescriptions and process refills received via fax, phone or mail.

Nuclear pharmacies

Jobs for pharmacy technicians in nuclear pharmacies must be trained to handle and prepare radioactive medication. They need to perform mathematical calculations when compounding medications to ensure safety. They also label medications and manage inventory. Since this is such a specialized field, fewer than one percent of pharm tech jobs are in nuclear pharmacies.

Read our other Informative Posts here..
Pharmaceutical industry

The pharma industry is another good job category to add to a résumé. The companies that develop, produce and market drugs need pharmacy technicians to help with various tasks. These duties could include triage, coordinating drug information requests, assisting with literature searches, writing drug information documents or helping with other quality assurance-related matters.

Government agencies

Many government agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Prisons, the Veterans Administration, Indian Health Services and the Armed Forces need the help of pharmacy technicians. They might manage drug inventory and pharmaceutical supplies, replenish medications in dispensing systems, or compound and dispense medications.

How to become

According to O*NET OnLine, the projected job growth for pharmacy technicians between 2018-2028 is faster than average for other jobs (7-10 percent). Coyne College Chicago offers pharmacy technician training. Enroll in the 42-week Coyne College pharmacy tech program to prepare for a rewarding career. You’ll learn how to enter and order meds, keep records, mix IV solutions and compound products, and fulfill prescription orders. In addition to traditional classroom instruction by industry-professional faculty members, you’ll participate in a hands-on externship that will give you real-world experience.

Contact Coyne College to train for an in-demand career as a pharmacy technician.

Things to Know About Commercial HVAC Systems

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Both residential and commercial HVAC systems serve the same purpose: to cool, heat, and ventilate. However, as you would expect, commercial or corporate HVAC does it on a much grander scale. They also vary in terms of mechanisms and parts.

What is an HVAC system supposed to do?

All HVAC systems strive to keep temperatures comfortable, which is generally around 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Additionally, they aim to keep indoor humidity consistent at 40-60 percent and air quality high, with CO2 less than 1,000PPM (Parts Per Million). That means that of one million gas molecules 1,000 would be carbon dioxide, and the other would be other gases.

Although there are different types of commercial HVAC systems, they all operate similarly:

  • Air conditioner units lower temperatures by expelling hot air through HVAC refrigeration or water-cooled systems.
  • Heating systems do the opposite, using water, radiator coils, or gas to heat the air.
  • Ventilation systems use fans to circulate the air and pass it through filtration systems to clean it.

How do commercial HVAC systems differ from residential systems?

Residential systems are less complicated than commercial systems and differ significantly:

  • Size: As you would expect, commercial systems are much larger than residential systems. They also have different thermostats, condenser fans, compressors, evaporators, blowers, and dampers.
  • Location: A residential HVAC system is usually placed outside the house or on the roof, in some locales. A commercial system, on the other hand, maybe located in a building’s swamp cooler or on the roof. The latter is a great space saver, which also makes for better noise control and easier access for maintenance.
  • Drainage: An individual AC unit may just have one drain or drain tray, but a commercial system has many pipes and drains to collect condensation.
  • Mechanism: This depends on both the structure and location. A residential HVAC system is usually a standalone unit, but commercial systems are generally modular. The parts in a commercial system are located in one spot, making it easier to upgrade or replace them.
  • Equipment: A commercial system is often massive and customized for the most efficient and heating for the size of the building and its use.
  • Costs and maintenance: Commercial HVAC systems are much more expensive because of their complexity, and they should be installed, serviced, and maintained only by experienced commercial HVAC contractors and technicians.
What is an HVAC system supposed to do?
All HVAC systems strive to keep temperatures comfortable, which is generally around 72 degrees Fahrenheit.
Learn More
How do commercial HVAC systems differ from residential systems?
Residential systems are less complicated than commercial systems and differ significantly:
Learn More
What are the different categories of commercial HVAC systems?
Building size can often determine what type or combination of HVAC system works best to heat and cool it.
Learn More
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What are the different categories of commercial HVAC systems?

Building size can often determine what type or combination of HVAC system works best to heat and cool it. Although there are variations, most can be narrowed down to three main categories:

  • Single split system: Popular and affordable, this system is often found in smaller commercial buildings and allows for individual heating and cooling control of each space. If it’s an office building with a server room for computer equipment or a restaurant, this would be ideal. This system features a combination air conditioner/furnace that passes air through refrigerant lines and circulates it via air ducts. However, for each space you want to control, it requires a separate outdoor unit.
  • Multi-split system: Up to nine indoor units can connect to one outdoor unit, resulting in better energy efficiency and a smaller outdoor footprint. Sensors detect temperature changes and can be adjusted as needed. However, multi-split systems take longer to install and can be more expensive.
  • VRF (Variable Refrigerant Flow) or VRV (Variant Refrigerant Volume) systems: These work best in large mixed-use buildings, such as big office buildings or hotels, where both heating and cooling of different spaces could be needed at once.
Is there an industrial HVAC installation guide?

Many business owners know they need to get a new HVAC system, but they may have little knowledge of HVAC. They might also have trouble understanding the installation quotes or equipment requirements they get from commercial heating contractors. If they follow a few guidelines, they may be more confident when choosing a contractor and/or commercial HVAC system:

  • Ask for a complete breakdown of costs. When you talk to potential contractors, have them submit price quotes that cover all aspects of installation, from start to finish.
  • Learn about the latest heating and cooling technology, system types, and manufacturers. Compare systems, costs, and benefits.
  • Remember to include the cost of ductwork in your installation budget. Ductwork and piping can add a lot to installation costs, so you need to budget for them if you can’t use existing ducts and pipes.
  • Budget for system controls, such as thermostats. Depending on your building’s size, you could need dozens—or hundreds—of thermostat control points.
  • Talk to your contractor about regular maintenance. Getting a new system installed can be costly, but not planning for regular maintenance can make it even more expensive. Ask your contractor if they guarantee their parts and labor and if they include scheduled maintenance services.
How do you become HVAC technician?

You can enroll in a Coyne College HVAC program to get hands-on instruction from industry professionals who will teach you to install, troubleshoot, and service domestic and commercial HVAC-R systems. Earn your diploma in as little as 42 weeks. You’ll be prepared for a rewarding, in-demand career that O*NET OnLine reports will grow 11 percent—much faster than average for other jobs—through 2028. Illinois expects to see job growth of 13 percent.

Contact Coyne College Chicago today to get the HVAC training you need to succeed.

Do You Need to Update Your Home’s Electrical Wiring?

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A 2019 report by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) states faulty wiring was the second-leading cause of residential fires in the United States between 2012-2016. That’s alarming—especially since it is preventable. It also can run up your electricity bill. Could electrical updates save your home—and keep more money in your pocket? Here are some considerations to help you decide.

When do I need to update the wiring?

Not all unsafe wiring is old; it may just be damaged, worn, cracked, or corroded. Any of these may be signs you need to update the electrical wiring in your home to ward off the likelihood of an electrical accident or fire:

• Loose connections
• Frayed cords
• Pinched, pierced or cracked wire insulation
• Overheated wires or cords
• Damaged electrical appliances
• Wiring that rodents may have chewed

Everything seems to work, so why would I update my home electrical?

Is your home more than 40 years old? There are wiring risks in older homes that could signal a need for updates. Most homes built before the 1940s used knob and tube wiring that ran along and through the building’s frame: one black charged wire and one white neutral wire. Electrical tape placed around ungrounded soldered wires formed splices and wire connections. Insulation prior to 1960 was made of rubber that was known to crumble or flake. If the insulation became worn, was incorrectly installed, or was covered with regular building insulation material, it could be dangerous and not up to NEC—National Electrical Code—standards.

Although NEC was established in 1897, it is consistently upgraded and provides the latest regulations regarding electrical wiring, overcurrent protection, grounding, and installation of equipment. Following code doesn’t always require replacement of wiring—especially if you live in a historic home. If local code allows it and your wiring needs work, you can splice the old knob and tube wiring with a new NM (non-metallic) cable if you use a junction box, which protects wire connections. Even if your house was built as late as the early 1970s you could have a safety hazard if your wiring is aluminum, rather than the standard copper. Aluminum connections can loosen and cause fires.

How do I know if my wiring is ok?

If you have no idea when your wiring was inspected, it’s a good idea to have a professional electrician check it for wear and tear. This can be especially helpful if you’ve experienced any of the following:

• Frequently blown fuses or tripped breakers
• Flickering lights
• Tingling sensations when you touch an appliance
• A burning smell that persists from an appliance or room
• Warm, sparking or discolored electrical outlets
• Two-prong (rather than three-prong grounded) outlets throughout your house

How long does the electrical wire last?

The copper wire used for electrical wiring today can last 100 years. The problem is with the protective sheathing or insulation, which can wear down a lot sooner. It’s the type of sheathing that determines how long the wiring lasts, which is usually 50 to 70 years.

Are there any other clues that I should update the electrical wiring?

If you are keeping up with technology via computers, flat-screen TVs, air conditioners, and trendy gadgets, you might not be getting enough power to run them efficiently—or effectively. Standard household power used to run on 60 amps, but today’s devices need 200 amps of power. If you don’t have it, you could cause damage to expensive equipment. Power strips and additional outlets can help, but they may not be enough to protect your equipment and could create a safety hazard.

What do I need to do before selling my house?

If you plan to put your house on the market with outdated wiring, it might not pass inspection. You would be faced with costly repairs—and you might lose potential buyers. Updating your electrical may help you get the most money from your home sale. These updates could help get you a better offer:

• Solid copper wire and adequate grounding throughout your home
• 200-amp wiring rather than 60-amp
• Grounded outlets that all accept three-prong plugs
• Multiple outlets in each room
• A circuit breaker panel rather than a bulb-style panel
• GFCIs (ground fault circuit interrupters) put in “wet” locations (bathroom, kitchen, garage, basement)

In addition, if you arrange for an electrical inspection before your house goes on the market, you may be able to prevent potential sales issues.

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My home does have issues. How much will it cost me to update the wiring?

Where you live, the size of your home, and how much needs to be done could all impact the price of updating electrical wiring. It’s not cheap and could run into the thousands of dollars for total wiring replacement. The best time to do the updates, though, would be if you’re doing a remodeling project because contractors will be around knocking walls down or accessing the wiring anyway. If you’re lucky, you may just need to add circuits and repair damaged wires, switches or panels.

How can I become an electrician?

Coyne College Chicago can provide you with the hands-on electrical training and individualized instruction you need to prepare for an in-demand career as an electrician. Enroll in the Coyne College Electrical Construction & Maintenance program, and you’ll learn about residential and industrial wiring systems, troubleshooting, and power systems analysis. Choose from day or evening classes that accommodate your schedule.

Contact Coyne College to train for a career as an electrician—a career O*NETOnLine predicts will grow faster than average of other occupations through 2028. It pays well, too: median wages in Illinois in 2019 were $27.01 hourly and $56,180 annually.

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