From nurse to entrepreneur

Bibin MB took the road less taken to set up Kerala’s finest medical coding academy

Four years ago, Bibin M B walked nervously in Kakkanad with a small bundle in his hand. It had in it his wife’s jewellery. He knew a local pawnbroker in the area. He wanted money urgently. A nursing graduate, with a few years of teaching the same trade to nursing students was the experience he had.
But he dreamed about starting a business. An academy that will train students on medical coding and billing, something unheard of in those days. When he conveyed his wish to his wife Neethu, without flinching she gave away her gold jewellery to pawn. With a little help from his brother-in-law, Bibin was able to raise an initial capital of Rs 4 lakh to set up his first training centre, while he was still an employee at another firm.
Bibin M B, the managing director of Cigma Medical Coding Academy, hails from a humble family. Born in Vadakkanad village in Sulthan Battery, Wayanad, Bibin was interested in doing business right from a young age. After completing his studies in 2007, Bibin began teaching students at a nursing college in Sulia in Dakshin Kannada. It was not an easy task for him.
“My first lectures were such a disaster. I realised I didn't have any skill for it,” begins Bibin. But being an average performer didn't deter his young mind. He began to pay attention to it. He began sharpening the teaching skills day in and day out until a time he became adept at it. “I think I have a quality of not being bogged down by situations. I was curious to watch and learn fast,” he says.
Soon he moved to Kochi seeking better opportunity. In 2012, he learnt medical coding while he was working in a BPO based in Ernakulam. The work timings were in the night and he found this as an opportunity to stretch his capacity. Soon he found a teaching job in the morning.
“I was married, and we both knew we can’t catapult into business immediately,” he says.
In 2015, he opened Cigma Academy for teaching medical coding. Despite venturing into business and taking up a new office space, Bibin didnt leave his job. “At night I donned the cap of an employee and during the morning I would teach students in my academy. For many months I used to hardly sleep for five hours,” remembers Bibin.
When he started, there were just a handful of students. The concept of medical coding was nascent in Kerala. But the vision and patience of the entreprenur beared fruits.
Today, Bibin expanded his training centre to 5,000 square feet space. In 6 batches more than 130 students undergo his three-month long training.
Cigma Academy received ISO certification in 2017. In recognition of the quality CIGMA provided in training students, it received the prestigious Promising Institute Award from Silicon India Healthcare Magazine. It also received certification from AAPC, the world’s largest training and credentialing organisation for the business of healthcare, with more than 180,000 members worldwide who work in medical coding, medical billing, clinical documentation improvement, medical auditing, healthcare compliance, revenue cycle management, and practice management. Cigma took the initiative to open AAPC exam centre in Kochi, the only one of its kind in Kerala.
In 2019, Cigma received the award for the Most Trusted Brand in Medical Coding Training in Kerala category from APS research company.
“Cigma students are being placed in reputed healthcare institutions across the world. My biggest asset is the quality of teaching the topics. The three months training in rigorous and provides a thorough understanding. I even have online coaching where students from other countries are taught via Skype and Gotomeeting,” says Bibin who also ensures that he teaches the core areas himself to all the batches.
More than a thousand students graduated last year. “Quality is the backbone of my academy’s success,” says Bibin. He doesnt get jittered by competition in business. Some of his students have also ventured to start medical coding business at different places. “I have even guided and advised them on how to go about with ity,” says the teacher-entrepreneur and believes that if he does good to others, it will give him more success.
When asked about his plans to expand operations he believes in step-by-step progress. “ I could have branched out. There were many opportunities. Before I do that, I am working to formalise and put some systems that will give it a strong foundation,” he points.
“I took back my wife’s jewellery, kept for pawning slowly and surely. I guess that works for me,” he concludes.

Published in the first edition of Corporate Champions' supplement on January 28, 2019. 
link: http://epaper.newindianexpress.com/1999923/The-New-Indian-Express-Kochi/28012019#page/20/1