About Debra O’Halloran

My name is Debra O’Halloran and I am an RHIT.  I come from a long line of nurses including my Grandmothers, Mom, four of my five Aunts and my sister, but for some odd reason I did not inherit the ‘Florence Nightingale’ gene.  I wanted very much to be in the medical field but had no care giver drive, so chose the paper part of the health care delivery system.  I went through the AHIMA program at a community college – received my AS degree in June of 1985 (then called Medical Record Science) – and wrote the RHIT (then called ART) exam that September. 

I live in the great Pacific Northwest and enjoy the beach and by dog Cleo keeps me busy fetching her toys from under the sofa.  I have a small rose garden I like to fuss over and grow beautiful tomatoes and peppers in the summer.

I worked in a 355 bed Acute Care Facility for 26 years where I learned to code all patient types.  The facility provided all care types with the exception of burns, organ transplants and major neonatal surgery, those cases were transferred out.  I now work for a coding service remotely from my home.  I enjoy the freedom this gives me with my daily schedule and the pay is much higher than what you might see in a facility.

Thank you Debra for contributing!!!!

Veronica