Changing Course

Lori Ware worked steadily for the last 18 years. At the same job. Last year she decided she needed a change.

She knew that she wanted to work in the medical field, but also knew that the time she would spend on her education would mean time taken away from her family.

The Medical Office Specialist program at LBCC offers a one-year certificate that according to its web site, "prepar(es) people for entry-level positions as records clerks, ward clerks, receptionists and/or medical coders in medical offices or hospitals."

One-year is a relatively short amount of time to obtain an entirely new career, and for this working mother and wife, it required some major adjustments. Ware has continues to work in the apparel department at Fred Meyers - the job she continues while taking 18 credits a term. She went from working 25 hours a week, at the start of the program, to 12 hours a week.

"That's why I picked a one year program," Ware says.

"Her return to school was something we always knew she wanted to do, but  if you know Lori you know it would only be at a time when  the biggest burden would be hers and the chance of success would be great," Ware's parents say.

True to her nature, Ware made a practical choice given that the US Department of Labor predicts health care and social sciences are the highest areas of job growth through 2018.

Ware's goal is "to gain employment at an entry level position with preferably a larger office/corporation, so that I may advance into possibly a medical coding position." She says she is focusing her search on "receptionist positions and accounts clerk positions. I may apply at dentist offices, but we will see how things go the next month."

The demands of school and work have shifted some household priorities - "the house doesn't have to be perfect," and there is less time for socializing with friends and family, Ware says.

It is different than being 19 and single and going to school. Ware's friend and classmate Jennifer Hughes agrees: "It is a huge sacrifice for us to be here. Not only the financial sacrifice, but also the sacrifice of spending less time with our kids."

To accommodate Ware's school schedule, her daughter Aaliyah attends the CAPS program before and after school two days a week; Aaliyah loves the extra play time with friends. And this term, Ware is taking two courses online which adds some flexibility to her schedule.

Ware's husband Andre says he "knew she was an organized person but I think she took it to a whole new level with the school, life, and work thing."

An essential strategy Ware implements is making priority lists. She says this allows her to plan her work time and down time more wisely: "Part of being organized is knowing when you can afford to go to bed at nine o'clock." That is good advice for students of any age.


Program Information
What: The Medical Office Specialist program
Adviser:  Sally Stouder 
Contact Information: (541) 917-4289, stoudes@linnbenton.edu