Imelda Resendez began her healthcare career as a Medical Assistant at Dignity Health's Mercy Medical Center in 1995. However, the demanding hours and weekend work became challenging after she had children. Imelda decided to leave her position and take on a part-time job at a local doctor's office. After thirteen years away, Imelda returned to Dignity Health as part of the registration team in the Patient Access Department. In 2018, she earned a promotion to Lead Patient Access Clerk, but she still aspired for further career growth. A year later, an opportunity for a career change arose when Service Employees International Union-United Healthcare Workers West (SEIU-UHW) & Joint Employer Education Fund introduced a new medical coding apprenticeship program. Imelda saw this as the perfect chance to advance her career.
Imedla said, "I knew I was capable of so much more, but I didn't know how to get there. When I was offered a spot in the coding apprenticeship, I felt like it happened at exactly the right time in my life."
She completed the initial coursework and passed her certified professional coder exam in 2020, but pandemic restrictions temporarily disrupted her plans to secure a coding position. As the world began to return to normal in March 2022, the Education Fund contacted Imelda with another opportunity to complete her journey toward becoming a full-time medical coder. She embarked on a year-long apprenticeship program in May 2022 and successfully completed all aspects of her RA in February 2023. Now, Imelda proudly holds the position of Medical Coder I. The coding apprenticeship provided her with invaluable training and boosted her professional confidence. Imelda enjoys the flexibility of working from home, allowing her to better fulfill her family obligations.
Publish Date: 11/07/2023