Brittany Shafis

I really attribute my success to being a people person and being kind and willing to listen. I've always been willing to take on jobs that other people might look down upon. When I was in college, I worked in custodial services, made fruitcakes and jellies, and managed the student-led cafeteria through a work-study program, which allowed me to graduate debt-free. I learned that doing every job well with pride matters, because people do notice that. Even when you're quietly working, you earn respect. I'm always willing to help others and try to maintain a happy smile and offer encouragement. I try to make people feel at ease because you never know what battles someone is fighting. Growing up, I had a hard life and experienced bullying, so I always try to be calm and kind. I want to be one person's light, even if the rest of their day is really tough. I want to be just a small light for someone. It's those small actions that go a long way. One small smile, one small act of kindness, like bringing someone coffee or being a shoulder to cry on when they need to vent, it creates a butterfly effect that can make a real difference.

The best advice I've received is about having a thicker skin and not taking things too personally. I'm a pretty sensitive person, and empathy can be a double-edged sword. Sometimes you learn empathy through being mistreated, which makes you want to treat others better. But I also sense when something's wrong and I take things to heart. The important advice was learning that at the end of the day, your job is your job, but it's not your end-all, be-all. It's not your life. You have to keep a balance between work and life. It's very hard for me, but I'm getting better every year. When I first started out as an optician, I would come home sobbing because people would get mad about something that was completely not my fault, but they would take it out on me and I would take it personally. But you just gotta sometimes have a good cry and then laugh at them because they're being ridiculous. Now when a provider gets angry that we down-coded something, I remember that I have my expertise to back up why I'm right. I'm not out to get anyone. I'm here to help and make sure things are accurate, because I want to make sure providers are getting paid accurately, but I also want to make sure the state isn't paying out for inaccurate codes.

First, I would definitely try to find some kind of background in healthcare, because even my experience working as an optician helps me now when I see claims for glasses. I recognize those codes and understand why they were coded a certain way. Be very detail-oriented, because the code can change based on small details like whether it's a first initial visit versus a follow-up visit. You have to be willing to read into things carefully and not be afraid to question the doctor and say, 'Hey, this makes no sense,' or 'You didn't document this, I can't code this.' Be open to technology and willing to listen to other people. Through the AAPC, where I got my certification, they put out different symposiums that are really fascinating. Even though I work in workers' comp and don't do obstetrics, I love learning about those codes and the different changes, because it's good to stay abreast of new information. If you like mysteries and finding little clues, like I loved reading Encyclopedia Brown and those 10-minute mystery books growing up, then this field is perfect for you. It's a very transferable skill. Women are so detail-oriented anyway, so it's a very natural field for us to go into. Medical coding is a very woman-dominated field, which is awesome because you get to meet all these wonderful and beautiful women. It's very empowering. There are so many different options too. You can work in a private practice with a small amount of codes, or work for a major hospital and see all different kinds of codes every single day. You can be an auditor like me, reviewing codes and making determinations. The best part is that companies will teach you on the job, like mine did, and they might even pay for your certification.

The coding world is extremely busy and fast-paced. There are so many different places you can go into and so many opportunities available. You can work in a private practice if you want to work with a certain small amount of codes, like working for an OB or an ENT where you basically work with the same codes. Or you can work for a major hospital and see all different kinds of codes every single day, which provides incredible variety. You can work as an auditor like me, reviewing codes and making determinations about whether they were accurate or need to be changed. The field offers great opportunities for women with work-life balance. My company really values that, and they even have drinks in the office every week to let people let loose and blow off some steam. It's a very nice environment to work in. The challenge is that it's definitely fast-paced and there's so much to learn. At first, it's just so much information, but then one day it just clicks, and that's the best feeling. There are still things I'm learning, and the field is constantly evolving with new codes and changes every year.

The values most important to me are honesty, integrity, and kindness. I believe that small actions go a long way, and it's a butterfly effect. One small smile or one small act of kindness, even if it's just bringing someone coffee or being a shoulder to cry on when they need to vent, can make a huge difference. You never know what battles someone is fighting, so I always try to be calm and kind. I want to be one person's light, even if the rest of their day is really tough. I want to be just a small light for someone. Growing up, I had a hard life and experienced difficult things, so I learned the importance of empathy. Sometimes you learn empathy through being mistreated, and it makes you want to treat others better. I'm very sensitive and I sense when something's wrong, which comes with being empathetic. I believe in doing every job well with pride, no matter what it is. When I was in college, I worked in custodial services and other jobs that people might look down upon, but I did them with pride because people notice that. I'm always willing to help others and try to maintain a positive attitude with encouragement. I want to make sure I'm treating people with respect and kindness, because that's what matters most.