Careers in medical coding are on the rise, and for good reason. It is a rising field in the medical industry and an immensely fulfilling career path as you form the connection between patients, medical providers, and insurance companies. 

As a medical coder, you will translate complex diagnoses, procedures, medications, and other doctor's notes into simple, standardized alphanumeric codes. These codes have a few different purposes: 

• They enter the patient record to make it easier for their doctor and other providers to refer to and learn about the patient in the future. 
• Insurance companies use them to understand what the patient needed and how it might be covered under their policy. 

Coders in the medical field are also responsible for maintaining the accuracy of patient records and verifying those records to ensure that insurance companies have everything they need to process billing. Medical terminology, an updated understanding of current coding guidelines, and knowledge of basic medical concepts will all help you succeed in this field. 

Real estate is a consistently stable career choice because people will always need a place to live, but many jobs within this industry run on commission, which many people may not be comfortable with. Careers in property management are one of the exceptions to that since they're typically salaried positions with excellent job security and flexibility to work either full or part-time.  

Property managers are detail-oriented professionals trusted to handle daily operations on residential, commercial, or even industrial properties. Their job is to keep things running as smoothly as possible for both the property's owner and tenants, whether taking care of maintenance issues or advertising new vacancies. Property management requires everything from problem-solving skills to excellent customer service, so it's a rewarding career for someone who likes juggling many different tasks. This path is also widely considered one of the most accessible ways to get involved with real estate.  

Read on to learn more about working as a property manager and how Portland Community College's Property Management License course can help you get your foot in the door with just ten weeks of online classes.  

QuickBooks is the leading accounting software suite. From startups to established enterprises, millions of businesses use Quickbooks to balance their finances, track sales, manage budgets, and get useful financial reports on the state of the business. Anyone looking to break into the accounting or bookkeeping career, or build value in the bookkeeping career path, can benefit from honing their skills using the QuickBooks software. 

Learning QuickBooks could be the first step to a long and prosperous career. Software proficiency in a program as complex and diversely applied as QuickBooks doesn't happen overnight. One of the best ways to improve your prospects as an accountant or bookkeeper is to take a few courses in QuickBooks operations based on the specific digital bookkeeping skills you want to develop. 

People show they benefit from counseling when it helps them improve their lives by taking personal responsibility to change harmful behaviors. It's often challenging to push ourselves to make these changes ourselves. Even though we want to change, we may not feel ready for it. Which is where motivational interviewing becomes beneficial.  

It is a counseling technique that enables people to find the intrinsic motivation to make positive changes in their lives. Understanding how it functions helps people, even if they don't struggle with issues like addiction but have friends or relatives who do. 

We'll review Motivational Interviewing, how it helps people make positive changes, and who can benefit from learning about it. 

Since 1972, Derek’s Shoe Repair has been helping Portlanders keep their favorite shoes for longer. After purchasing the business in January 2022, Jessica Jones came to the PCC SBDC seeking assistance in transitioning into her role as business owner. After working through the Business Builders and Advanced Small Business Management training programs, Jessica has grown her business mindset and skillset, and remodeled the business to propel Derek's into its next phase of growth! This is her story. 

People are complicated creatures. As individuals move from childhood to adolescence and adulthood, they may develop disruptive or self-destructive behaviors. When that happens, it may become difficult for them to motivate themselves to make the required changes. And all the while, those people may want to change their behaviors but don't know how.

In today's post-pandemic world, mental health struggles have become increasingly more prevalent, affecting people evenly across every socioeconomic status, age, gender, and geographic location.  

Because of this, more resources are available for those who are struggling. MHFA and ASIST courses offer invaluable tools that you can use to help someone facing mental health and substance use challenges and to keep someone safe who has shown signs of suicidal risk.  

Let's look at each course and how it can benefit you, your community, and the world around you. 

Who doesn’t have bad digestion these days? Water cooler talk will reveal that all your coworkers have funky guts. From heartburn and ulcer to constipation and gas, it seems like everyone’s ornery digestive tract is making an appearance. 

Many factors affect a fetus's development. Some of those you can't change, such as their genetic makeup, hormone levels, and even environmental factors like the air quality where they live. However, other factors can impact the health and development of the fetus, and a big one is nutrition.  

An expectant mother's diet provides the essential building blocks for the baby's growth. A healthy diet also gives the mother energy, helping her body adjust to the demands of pregnancy.  

But what does it mean to have a healthy diet when you're pregnant? Nutritional needs shift while carrying a baby, and it's important to focus on certain foods to ensure you meet those needs.