Today we’d like to introduce you to Latasha Cannon.
Latasha, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
While in business college, I began working in the medical field on college work-study at Grady Health System. The field of medicine was so interesting to me. I finished college and went on to work for various hospitals and physician practices in roles such as receptionist, billing, and a little coding. I, again, enrolled in school to come to a nurse. Halfway through, I left nursing school on maternity leave to have my second child. It was during this time I decided that I didn’t want to be a nurse yet.
While working at the Emory Clinic, I became interested in medical coding as an occupation. I enrolled in a class at Emory Medical Care Foundation. After obtaining my Certified Professional Coder certification, I landed a job within two weeks. I now combine my business degree and coding skills in being an entrepreneur. I teach medical coding at my school, help others open schools through my school of business, work as a coding contractor, and educate healthcare providers on documentation and coding.
Has it been a smooth road?
It has not been a smooth road because life has a funny way of getting in the way. For example, while working as a team lead for Children’s Orthopaedics of Atlanta, I had a car accident and sustained a concussion and whiplash. While recovering, I came to terms that I could no longer code under production. What used to take me a few minutes to review medical records, now took over 15 minutes. I couldn’t sit for long periods of time anymore. I went from being at what I thought was the apex of my game to being at a crossroad of do I stay at this company or leave.
Eventually, I left and found another job that was not production work but building relationships with healthcare providers and teaching them coding. This was the stepping stone to me opening my school. The rest is history.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Best Practice Coding Solutions story. Tell us more about it.
In 2016, I opened Best Practice Coding Solutions as a medical coding school. I taught the course to pass the national coding exam. After doing contract work on the side, I went on to open a school of business where I teach other coders to become contractors and entrepreneurs.
I am most proud that I am able to keep tuition costs competitive and offer free tutoring to my students and for the App that I built for students, coders, and healthcare providers.
I am set apart from any other coding school because once the students become certified, I focus on skills to make them industry ready such as medical record review, provider education, and contracting. There is no other African American owned school that has an App and provides these skills.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
Over the next 5-10 years, I see expansion globally by enrolling students in other states and countries and creating more entrepreneurs by opening more schools under the Best Practice Coding Solutions brand. This is real financial freedom.
Pricing:
- Tuition starts at $2500 that includes tuition, books, membership, tutoring, and mentoring.
- I offer various continuing education session throughout the year starting as low as $10.
- The company App can be found on Apple and Google App markets
Contact Info:
- Address: 2900 Chamblee Tucker Rd, Bldg 13, Atlanta, GA 30341
- Website: www.bestpracticecodingsolutions.com
- Phone: 404-944-9189
- Email: bestpracticecodingsolutions@gmail.com
- Instagram: bestpracticecodingsolutions
- Facebook: bestpracticecodingsolutions
- Yelp: Best Practice Coding Solutions
- Other: Apple and Google App Markets: Best Practice Coding Solutions
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