“This is an excellent opportunity for residents in our community to obtain free training and launch a new career,” Medina-Allen said. “Students who begin this program in January will take their exam in December. Following completion of the course, Boca Helping Hands will help them prepare for and navigate their job search.”
Well trained billing and coding professionals have been desired workers during the pandemic, helping organizations to adapt to new guidelines and increased telehealth visits, navigate new billing and coding challenges, and reduce errors and patient conflicts.
Monica Hurley, a CPC who is employed by the billing office of a large multi-specialty surgery group, was first attracted to the industry because she kept seeing a need for medical coders in the marketplace – and felt the possibility of working from home was an additional draw. “If you are analytical and have a good memory – and enjoy anatomy, physiology, and biology – this is an ideal field to be in, ” she said. “You are always learning and you will never be bored.”
Boca Helping Hands offers other job training programs as well, including Home Health Aide, Commercial Driver’s License and Certified Nursing Assistant. New classes begin each month.
Those interested in the Job Training Programs are interviewed to determine eligibility for enrollment. Once accepted into their designated Job Training Program, they proceed to Job Readiness, a Professional Development Curriculum which is typically held in the Justin D. Webb Training Center, 1595 NW 1st Court, Boca Raton, but is currently being conducted virtually due to COVID-19.
Once students have completed the Job Readiness Program, Boca Helping Hands pays for them to attend an accredited school for their technical training and certification program. The Job Training Admissions & Care Coordinator works with the students before, during, and after their training program to provide support and connect them with available resources. When the student graduates, they meet with a Job Mentor from Boca Helping Hands who helps them work on their resume, apply for jobs and prepare for interviews.
Other no-cost classes held by Boca Helping Hands include English as a Second Language (ESOL), Survival English (an immersive online program to learn English), The Reading Project (an adult literacy program), and Nutrition for All. Boca Helping Hands also provides Learning Lab classes where students can practice computer skills and partners with First Citizens Bank to provide financial literacy classes.
“We have expanded the scope of Boca Helping Hands’ services to better enable our clients to become self-sufficient,” Greg Hazle, Boca Helping Hands Executive Director said. “The goal is to get students trained, certified and assist with employment so they don’t need Boca Helping Hands in the future.”
Supporters of the BHH Job Training Program include the Frederick A. DeLuca Foundation, the Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties, and the Order of St. John of Jerusalem Knights Hospitaller of Florida, Inc.
To apply for enrollment or for more information, contact Jennifer Disla at 561-417-0913, Ext. 220.
