From Diesel Trucks to a Future in Medical Billing and Coding
Daleice Johnson came to UEI College because she was ready for a major career change. After spending her days outdoors doing general maintenance on diesel trucks and working with tires, oil, grease, and customer service, she felt herself craving a different kind of work.
“I wanted a big change from working outside with dirt and grease to something inside and more structured,” she explains.
She had originally fallen into diesel work because her brother was already doing it.
“I figured if he could do it, I could do it,” she said. And it turns out she could–but it wasn’t where she wanted to stay.
Before her time in Texas working on trucks, Daleice had attended Arizona State University for three years, taking science classes with the goal of becoming a physical therapist.
“I really enjoyed the science classes. It made me feel like the medical field would be a good fit for me,” she said.
But after moving to Texas for a job, the plan to transfer to a university stalled.
“I got distracted by work and never signed up for classes.”
Still, the pull toward healthcare never went away.
Daleice’s family had always talked positively about medical billing and Insurance coding. Her grandma spent years working in the field before retiring, and her mom had taken medical billing classes as well.
“The biggest thing for me was feeling like if I’m going to do something, I need to do it now,” Daleice said. The quick 10-month program made the decision easier. “I told myself, I can do anything for nine months.”
What ultimately brought her to UEI College in Phoenix was her admissions representative and the smooth process it was to sign up.
“She was so communicative,” she said. “From day one she answered every question I had. She invited me to tour the campus, look at different career paths, and just made everything so smooth. After talking to her, I was set up within a few days. I wanted it to happen fast, and it did.”
Now Daleice is nearing the end of her program and she’s thriving. One of the best parts, she says, is the people.
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“Getting to know the students, my instructor, and even other instructors—it’s great to pick their brain,” she said. She’s also loved the career services workshops on interviewing and job preparation. “It’s cool to see all the services here for us.”
When Daleice first started, she had no idea what to expect, but now that she understands the work and responsibility behind medical billing and coding, she genuinely enjoys it.
“I like that you get to help people, whether in person or over the phone,” she said. “I can imagine myself in an office talking to patients. I want to work toward a more remote job. Knowing that I can get additional certificates and decide how far I want to go is exciting. It’s in your hands.”
As she looks ahead to certification and new opportunities, Daleice is grateful she made the leap. And she encourages others to take it too.
“I tell people they should come to UEI. The process of starting is so easy. They make it all so easy. Just start. Time goes by faster than you think. Ten months goes by fast. If you start, you’ll see results quickly.”
