Author Archives: erick.merced

What Is Medical Billing?

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Just like any other working professional, doctors, nurses, and clinical staff members need compensation for their services—which makes medical billers a major asset to every healthcare facility, especially in Orlando. No procedure is the exact same, so clinical offices can’t slap a predetermined price tag on each treatment plan. Therefore, professionals in any field of medicine must submit their services for payment through the intricate medical billing system.   

The Connected World of Medical Billing 

There are three parties involved in medical billing and in healthcare reimbursement as a whole—the first, second, and third being the patient, provider, and payer, respectively. Medical billing is the thread that connects each party and ensures that the necessary ones are billed or payed. While the second party of medical billers creates and assigns the bills, or claims, the first and third parties are responsible for making payments on each service provided. 

Claims sent by medical billers to insurance companies, or third parties, include information about the patient and the service provided to the patient. For example, a colonoscopy claim would include the patient’s personal, medical, and insurance information as well as a report on the colonoscopy procedure and the reason it was recommended. 

The Day-to-Day for Medical Billers  

On a daily basis, the majority of medical billers’ time goes to creating claims. Therefore, they must be familiar with various insurance companies and their individual policies. Medical billers also have to verify and proofread each claim to remove any errors and verify that all of the information is correct and comprehensive. 

While there are many software options that can alleviate the complexity of medical billing, medical billers still need an intricate knowledge system to effectively navigate medical codes and assign the proper ones to each claim. The day-to-day duties of a medical biller include tasks such as: 

  • Filing claims with various insurance companies 
  • Tracking previously filed claims 
  • Receiving claim payments 
  • Correcting medical coding errors 
  • Updating billing information 
  • Contacting insurance companies 

Healthcare providers can use automated services or even outsource their medical billing, but medical billers remain imperative to their financial functions.

Start Your Career in Medical Billing

Here at HealthCare Support, our experienced team of healthcare recruiters understand the importance that each medical professional plays in our healthcare system. That’s why we strive to prepare every candidate to secure and succeed in the position that fits their interests, experience, and goals. If your career path is pointing toward medical billing, join our talent network today and gain access to top recruiting tactics designed for medical billers. For more information on our healthcare recruiting services, contact us today at 407-478-0332.

Which States Have the Biggest Need for Registered Nurses?

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According to the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the largest amount of healthcare careers in the United States are made up of nursing jobs. The country’s healthcare system relies heavily on the services and experiences of nurses, but future projections by the HRSA suggest that multiple states are likely to experience a severe nursing shortage within the next decade. Here’s a look at the supply and demand outlook for registered nurses (RNs) and licensed practical nurses (LPNs) until 2030. 

Is There a Shortage in Nursing? 

The HRSA’s report finds states may eventually experience a nursing shortage, while others are likely to see a surplus—if the current level of healthcare improves accordingly. However, the report states, “if current level of [healthcare] is maintained,” multiple states will have an alarming outlook of shortages. This potential shortage may be the result of a number of factors, including:

  • Health insurance coverage
  • Location 
  • Population 
  • Retirement patterns 
  • Shifting social priorities 
  • Access to healthcare 

Which States Need Nurses the Most? 

If the healthcare system continues to progress with normal growth, the job outlook for RNs is expected to elevate 12% from 2018-2028. Here’s a ranking order of the top five states with the most significant shortages of RNs or their full-time equivalents (FTEs) if the healthcare system remains the same until 2030.  

  1. California – 44,500 FTEs
  2. Texas – 15,900 FTEs
  3. New Jersey – 11,400 FTEs
  4. South Carolina – 10,400 FTEs
  5. Alaska – 5,400 FTEs

For LPNs, however, the figures are slightly less significant. The states projected to have the greatest shortages of LPNs or their FTEs by 2030 include:  

  1. Texas – 33,500 FTEs
  2. Pennsylvania – 18,700 FTEs
  3. Florida – 10,300 FTEs
  4. Georgia – 10,500 FTEs
  5. North Carolina – 10,700 FTEs

Start Your Career in Nursing 

While it might seem like landing a career in nursing will only get easier, it can still be difficult to find the right professional fit for your experience, goals, and lifestyle. If you’re an RN, LPN, or other healthcare professional looking to start or advance your career, partner with the healthcare recruiters at HealthCare Support. Weighing your personal and professional information against the open positions that best fit your wants and needs, our team will help you secure a job where you can truly excel. To join our talent network and learn more about our professional healthcare services, call us today at 407-478-0332.

Things to Know About Being a Medical Office Assistant

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The dynamic role of a medical office assistant requires equal parts customer service and clinical administration. However, even those with a keen eye for detail and a charming disposition still have a lot to learn if they want to secure a career in this rewarding role.

Where can I work as a medical office assistant?

Medical office assistants are vital to every healthcare facility, but their role varies from center to center. In larger facilities, like hospitals, medical office assistants usually work in more specialized positions. Focusing on one particular task, like billing or insurance utilization, allows them to effectively manage the higher patient workload and maintain effective customer service.

In centers with more specialized modes of care, medical office assistants must be more adept to multitask and sometimes take on roles outside of their normal scope. Because smaller facilities, like clinics, have less traffic, fewer patients, and lower workloads, medical office assistants often fill their days with a wide variety of tasks.

What are the job duties of a medical office assistant?

The responsibilities of a medical office assistant are rarely black and white. Overlapping duties include:

  • Answering, returning, and transferring phone calls
  • Greeting incoming patients
  • Scheduling patient appointments
  • Organizing, processing, and uploading patient documents
  • Handling and processing patient payments and insurance forms
  • Maintaining a clean and professional reception area
  • Overseeing facility emails and digital communication

Regardless of what kind of facility a medical office assistant works in, they must have respectable phone etiquette and strong customer service skills. They must also be extremely organized and experienced with managing their own schedule.

How do I become a medical office assistant?  

Beyond a high school diploma, GED, or equivalent experience, most employers prefer candidates to have a medical administrative assistant certificate along with one to two years of experience in a similar role. However, even candidates with no prior professional experience can succeed in a medical office assistant position with the help of a healthcare recruiter.

If you’re convinced that the role of medical office assistant is right for you, join the professional network at HealthCare Support. Our team of healthcare recruiters can guide you to the right facility for your schedule, location, and lifestyle. And, we can equip you with the tools to ace any interview and even negotiate a stronger compensation package for the start of your new career. To join our talent network and get ahead of the competition, call us today at 407-478-0332.

A Day in the Life of a Registered Nurse

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The amount of variation between each shift as a registered nurse is incredible. New patients, new treatments, and new technologies dominate the ever-changing schedule of an RN; however, many of these nurses actually follow a similar pattern of tasks across the board. For anyone interested in taking on the role of registered nurse, here’s a peek into what your day might look like.

Communicate with Other Staff

When a nurse first clocks in to his or her shift, the previous nursing shift often gives a briefing on any important patient activities or incidents that might affect their treatment going forward. Then, the nurse will typically review the patient schedules for their shift, evaluate treatment plans for the day, and schedule any doctor’s visits or time slots for equipment usage. To wrap up the start of their shift, the nurse may check their work emails to see if there’s anything in their inbox that needs priority.

Make Patient Rounds

Once a nurse has settled into their shift, they’ll typically head out to make the first patient rounds of the day. This includes communicating with patients, actively listening to their needs, taking vitals, and recording everything in the patient chart. Patient rounds are also an important window for med passes, or the scheduled time to deliver medications to each patient. Depending on whether a nurse is working a morning or night shift, they may need to assist patients with their morning meal.

Take a Lunch Break

Lunch breaks aren’t a guarantee for registered nurses. They can certainly dedicate time to stepping away to reenergize with a meal, but medical emergencies always take priority. So, if any unexpected changes happen over a nurse’s lunch, they’ll have to address the situation and make time for meals at another point in the shift. Many nurses bring quick and simple snacks, like granola or protein bars, so they can take bites on the go.

Finish the Day

Wrapping up a nursing shift is similar to starting one. At the end of their workday, nurses often conduct their final patient rounds to check on any last-minute needs, conduct final med passes, and assist patients with their final meals if the shift ends around dinnertime. Typically, they’ll then brief the incoming nurses that will take over for the next shift and check over patient charts to make sure that every document is in order. The next shift can then fully relieve the nurse to head home and catch up on some well-earned rest.

Becoming a Registered Nurse

The role of a registered nurse is one of the most fulfilling ones on the job market. If you’re interested in taking on this challenging and rewarding career, partner with a healthcare recruiter that can pair you with the right facility. At HealthCare Support, we strive to place RN’s in the setting they’ll thrive in most, which is why we dedicate our days to understanding our talent force members and our partnering healthcare providers. If you would like more information or are interested in joining our growing talent force, call 407-478-0332.

Putting Together a Perfect Healthcare Resume

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You’ve been sending your resume to tens of hundreds of job openings but haven’t heard back. You know you have enough professional experience, but aren’t sure why healthcare employers won’t reach out for an interview.

Your situation isn’t rare, but it is avoidable. Unfortunately, employers reject even the most qualified candidates because of simple resume mistakes, so here are some concrete tips that will guide you from first draft to final interview.

Writing Your Resume

Attention to detail is important in healthcare, and if you have any grammatical, spelling, or formatting errors on your resume, it reflects poorly on your potential performance. Here’s a to-do list that will strengthen your resume for every application.

  • Select an easy-to-read font like Garamond, Arial, Helvetica, or Calibri
  • Make sure all previous job descriptions are listed in past tense and current positions are in the present tense
  • Include your contact information (full name, phone number, email address, and current city)
  • List accomplishments that showcase your skills and what the employer has to benefit from.
  • Include additional details that can help the hiring manager understand you experience, skills and capacities, and the educational and work experiences that have led to you to where you are today.
  • Don’t forget to detail all active certifications and awards.

Additionally, your resume should always take up an entire page, but a recruiters and hiring manager’s time is valuable and 3+ page resumes are far too big.

Proofreading Your Resume

Checking for errors might seem like the simplest part of putting together a resume, but this step can trip up a lot of candidates. Some proofreading tips for your healthcare resume include:

  • Printing your resume to get a better view
  • Marking up your errors with a red pen
  • Proofreading your resume hours or days after you’ve finished writing it
  • Reading the details of your resume aloud
  • Asking friends, family, or others to read your resume

You can never spend enough time proofreading your resume. In fact, every time you make any changes, updates, or revisions for a different application, you should start the proofreading process over again.

Preparing for the Interview

When preparing for an interview, print multiple copies of your resume. There may be more than one person interviewing you, and it’s always good to have extra copies in case of an emergency. Similarly, find a professional folder to store your resumes or any other important interview documents in. This type of detail adds another layer of professionalism to your non-verbal presentation.

Work with a Healthcare Recruiter

If you want to get your resume in tip-top shape for each position you apply to, have it professionally critiqued by a healthcare recruiter. At HealthCare Support, we can help you prepare your resume and provide mock-interviews to refine the details. For more information or to learn more about how to perfect your resume, contact us today at 407-478-0332.

The Importance of Screening Candidates

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Your employees are the heart of your medical center, which means that each person on your team must be a valuable and qualified asset. But, finding the right applicants is an incredibly time-consuming task that you may not have time to properly prioritize.

The best way to prevent the wrong candidates from ever settling into your workforce is to work with a healthcare recruiter that knows how to find and recommend the best candidates through applicant screening. During these preliminary phone calls, recruiters assess the capabilities and personality of each applicant to determine the strongest ones to recommend for an in-person interview. Here’s a peek at how this process works and the areas it will improve around your healthcare facility.

Employee Performance

By understanding an applicant’s experience, qualifications, and salary requirements, a staffing agency determines if he or she meets the initial requirements of the position. This is the most crucial step in the phone screening process, because it eliminates unqualified candidates from ever reaching a face-to-face interview at your facility. A staffing firm evaluates if an applicant is qualified by asking questions such as:

  • “Can you describe your educational background?”
  • “Can you describe your professional experience?”
  • “What active medical certifications or licenses do you currently have?”

Company Culture

During initial phone screenings, a staffing consultant also asks a mixture of open-ended questions and questions provided by your facility to understand if the candidate fits in with your company culture. Behavioral questions to determine the candidate’s workplace preferences determine whether he or she is compatible with the mission, vision, and values of your center. A staffing firm evaluates personality by asking questions such as:

  • “What type of leadership style do you respond best to?”
  • “Are you looking for long-term employment or short-term?”
  • “Are you interested in growth opportunities in your workplace?”
  • “Do you plan on furthering your education?”

Facility Operations

A staffing agency will properly screen applicants to alleviate the need for your human resource department or medical executives to scan resumes and conduct wasteful interviews with unqualified candidates. By referring this responsibility to an experienced healthcare recruiter, your employees can put more focus on their own operations, improve the functions of your healthcare facility, and effectively evaluate the recommended applicants during the final interview.

Employee Turnover

Because staffing firms only recommend qualified and personally relevant applicants to your facility, you are more likely to hire candidates that will excel in their positions and completely fulfill their short- or long-term requirements. And, when less employees are shuffling in and out of your facility, you’ll notice a decrease in costs that come with additional training, temporary hires, and job advertisements.

Experienced Healthcare Recruiters

Perfecting your healthcare facility starts with your next hire. Luckily, the HealthCare Support team can place the perfect professionals in your healthcare facility through employment verification, reference checks, education verification, and more. Thanks to our multi-step screening process, you can feel confident that each applicant we recommend is qualified to excel in his or her job duties and blend in with your existing team of medical professionals. To learn more, visit our website at www.HealthCareSupport.com.

How to Increase Employee Retention

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When one of your valued medical professionals gives their resignation notice, you may be confused as to what encouraged him or her to leave. But often times, there isn’t just one incident that decreases your employee retention, but a series of factors that need improvement.

After asking yourself what you could do to increase staff retention, ask your staff directly. Establish clear channels of communication, find out how to improve their satisfaction, and give them the tools to feel empowered and valued in their position.

Talkative Team Building

One of the best ways to encourage employees to start and continue working with your healthcare facility is to foster a professional community at work. In fact, 46% of active job applicants state that company culture is a “very important” factor that contributes to their job search.

Use team-building exercises to let your healthcare employees grow your company culture into one that fits every employee’s social style. You can take your staff to team-building sites, like obstacle courses and escape rooms, or bring the activities to your facility and research icebreakers and teamwork games that start conversations.

Clear Communication

Employees that don’t feel comfortable communicating with upper management are 16% less likely to stay with their current company, which means that communication must flow to and from employees. Encourage your medical professionals to start conversations by letting them know how. Send an email or company newsletter addressing communication and detailing the proper channels to use for their wants and needs.

Scrupulous Surveys

The proof is in the professionals. If you really want to know how you can improve your employee satisfaction, send out a company satisfaction survey to see which areas your facility excels or needs improvement. Up to 29% of employees would replace a high-paying job with a job that they enjoy, so it’s important to also use open-ended questions and understand what would make each employee feel more valued and content with their work.

Just as you ask employees for feedback, you should provide it to them. Evaluating employee performances lets them understand which areas they excel in and which areas they need improvement. This provides workplace goals that will keep your medical professionals engaged in their everyday operations and in their place of work.

Employee Education

Turns out, 86% of employees find learning opportunities to be an important part of any workplace. Of course, the candidates you hire must meet the essential qualifications for their job title, but continuing their education provides value while making employees feel valued. Offer digital, on-site, or remote training in areas that you feel employees need more improvement or general understanding. Depending on the level of importance to each employee, you can make certain training companywide or department specific.

Healthy Hiring

Hiring the right medical professional is a victory for any healthcare facility, but improper onboarding can determine how long your new hires will stick around. Companies that effectively prepare and integrate employees during the hiring process “improve new hire retention by 82%,” but you don’t have to optimize your onboarding alone.

Experienced Healthcare Staffing

Working with healthcare recruitment professionals can elevate the process that turns interviewees into employees. Having a thorough hiring process allows you to evaluate the long-term goals of each applicant, select the best candidates for your facility, and determine how to successfully integrate them into your team. To fortify your recruitment, consider hiring a healthcare staffing agency that knows how to properly place the right professionals in the right facilities.

At HealthCare Support, we offer a range of services that bring the best professional candidates to your facility and equip it with the tools to retain them. We offer onsite visits, team building events, continual coaching, and newsletters to keep your staff satisfied and keep your facility informed. For more information, contact us today at 407-478-0332.

Nurses Week 2019

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Medical centers across the country, such as hospitals and doctors’ offices, are teeming with patients who rely on trained professionals to not only provide for them medically, but to also provide joy and hope in their otherwise scary situations. Although doctors are an important factor in the life of a patient, nurses play a far more familiar role. They deal with the nitty-gritty of everyday hospital life and put forth 110% of their effort to ensure their patients are safe, comfortable, and well-taken care of. A nurse’s life is not an easy one. To express our gratitude to these hardworking individuals, nurses are honored annually during, National Nurses Week.

When is National Nurses Week?

This year, 2019, National Nurses Week ran from Monday, May 6th through Sunday, May 12th. This one week out of the year brought sweet deals for nurses across the nation. Free food and discounts were provided the entire week by businesses such as Cinnabon and Pollo Tropical. Disney World even got in on the action, providing discounts for nurses to book hotel rooms at a cheaper price.

Why Do Nurses Deserve a Week of Dedication?

Nurses work tirelessly night and day to provide for complete strangers. It’s not a job meant for the faint of heart. Many people don’t fully comprehend the importance of nurses and the grueling services they provide. Below are some facts about nurses and their profession:

  • According to a study by MEDSURG Nursing, nurses walk between 4 to 5 miles per their long 12-hour shifts.
  • There are currently over 2.9 million nurses employed in the United States.
  • There are over 100 different nursing professions to choose from.
  • Only 3 out of 5 nurses work inside of a hospital. The rest? They work in hospice care, nursing homes, schools, etc.
  • Nursing is one of the fastest growing occupations in the country, demanding a higher skillset and in-demand specialties.

Ways You Can Recognize Nurses

There are many fun ways of recognizing your favorite nurses. Gifts are an awesome way to express love. Some ideas include:

  • Tote bags
  • Nurse mugs and cups
  • Clothing
  • Chocolate or baked goods
  • Gift-cards to their favorite places
  • Personalized cards

Gifts, of course, are not the only way to express your gratitude. Saying “thank you” goes a long way.

Do You Want to Be a Nurse? We Can Help!

HealthCare Support recognizes nurses for their hard work and dedication. Our goal is to help talented, passionate healthcare professionals find the perfect long-term or short-term job. Our network is vast and our team can help place you in the ideal situation for your career, whether that be a nurse or a doctor. To learn more about current job openings and our services, please give us a call at 407-478-0332.

Why You Should Come to Work Early

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Coming in to work early is one of those things that we all know is a good idea but few people actually have the will to pull it off. It sounds like a great plan until the alarm goes off in the morning and all you desire is one more hit of that snooze button. However, getting in to work early is one of the best things you can do, both for your performance as well as your public perception. Here are some concrete reasons why you should get to work a little bit early.

Establish Order

When you get to work early, everything is much calmer. There are few people present if any, the noise level is low, and there is no stress to be at the peak of your game yet. This can allow for you to get set up for the workday ahead. Iron out a schedule for the day’s proceedings, organize your desk, and get mentally prepared for all the great work you are going to do in the upcoming hours. This will help you to be focused for the hours ahead.

Get Work Done

Arriving early allows for you to get a head start on the tasks for the day. Any extra time to clock in and get some projects completed is always an added bonus, and getting in to the office early allows for that. This can also be a big advantage in an industry that thrives on competition and sales, as the extra time allows for you to get a leg up on your fellow workers.

Impress Your Superiors

Being an early arriver sends a positive message to your coworkers as well as your boss. It shows that you are dedicated and able to sacrifice for the sake of your career and the company. Your superiors will notice your drive and work ethic, and this can only serve to benefit you down the road with future projects. And while demonstrable benefits go a long way, there is an important aspect for just the respect and dignity that comes from being regarded highly as a person and worker.

Aspirational Healthcare Workers

In the healthcare industry, it is important to have determined workers who work hard and do the little things to succeed, like showing up to work early. At HealthCare Support, we specialize in connecting employers to their future star employees in the healthcare sector. If you are looking for a job opportunity, or are looking for a new hire, contact us today at 407-478-0332.

Phone Interview Tips for Candidates

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When you work with a recruiting agency, a critical part of landing a job somewhere is the phone interview. Your dedicated recruiter will work hard to find you great job opportunities wherever you want to go and will represent you well to potential employers. But, the phone interview is your first chance to talk directly with an employer. Thus, it is incredibly important that you are able to make a good first impression over the phone and convey your skills and interests clearly.

Of course, it is only natural to feel some pressure and nerves during a phone interview. But don’t worry — we are here to help you feel relaxed, confident, and prepared when talking to a potential employer for the first time over the phone. Here are some tips so you can ace your next phone interview.

  • Eliminate outside noises and distractions.

    The quickest way to tank a phone interview is to have a communication breakdown. That means don’t plan on having the call in a noisy coffee shop or outside by a busy street. You should be able to hear the employer clearly, and you definitely want them to hear you.

  • Study up on the company.

    An interviewer can always tell how interested you are in the job offering. If you haven’t put any effort into researching the company, it will come back to bite you. When talking about your experience and skills, try to connect them concretely to how they will serve you well at the exact job you are interviewing for.

  • Pull up your resume, cover letter, and the job description.

    The interviewer will certainly have these in front of them when asking you questions, and you don’t want to have to ask them what is on your own resume. Plus, this can help you focus your thoughts and jog your memory to help you give better answers.

  • Give focused, tight answers at a relaxed speed.

    A phone interview is typically not a long one. It is meant mostly to screen out candidates who are a bad fit. So, you don’t need to tell your whole life story — get to the point and answer the questions directly. This doesn’t mean you should cram in information by talking fast, either. Slower is better, especially over the phone.

  • Think about your answers to common questions ahead of time.

    Common questions like “What are you looking for in a job?” or “Why do you want to work for us?” shouldn’t trip you up. You should expect them and have confident answers already prepared so you can put your best foot forward.

  • Ask thoughtful questions.

    It is a big red flag if you don’t have any questions at the end of your interview. There’s no way you already know everything there is to know about the position, so if you don’t ask anything, your interviewer will think you aren’t seriously interested. Ask about day-to-day questions to show that you are genuinely considering what it would be like to work there.

If you are looking for a job anywhere in the health care industry, our team of recruiters would love to help you. HealthCare Support has positions ranging from administrative to executive and works in every state throughout the nation. Our team will assist with your resume, interview prep and onboarding as well as anything you may need help with throughout your assignment. To start your next health care job search with view our Current Openings on our website. If you do not see what you’re looking for, Join Our Talent Network to stay informed when one becomes available.