Author Archives: Zach Kohlmeier

5 Jobs in Healthcare to Consider

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Jobs in the healthcare field aren’t going away, as people will always need medical attention. But some jobs seem to be growing more than others. We’ve put together a list of the top five jobs in healthcare, their average salaries, and how much they are expected to grow within the next ten years.

Physician Assistant

At an average $97,280 a year, PAs not only earn their keep, but their demand continues to grow, at 30% over the next decade to be exact. PAs do just about the same things as General Practitioners such as diagnosis, surgeries, and injection, bit they are required to be supervised by a licensed physician or surgeon.

Nurse Practitioner

With at 35% growth rate, nurse practitioners have the fastest growing positions in the health care industry. If you are an RN, you can become an NP with just a little more education. An NP’s typical duties involve noting patient’s history, ordering labs, and prescribing medicine.

OB Sonographer

The health and care of a mother’s baby while in the womb is one of the most important things to her, which is why OB Sonographers have a starting salary of about $65,000. As an OB Sonographer, you can expect to perform around eight to ten exams a day which includes operating ultrasound equipment, explaining specifics of the imaging to patients, and observing the weight of the fetus.  

Pharmacist

With an average annual salary of around $112,000 pharmacists earn their keep. Daily tasks that involve interpreting prescriptions, overseeing Drug-drug, drug-allergy, and high dose medications, routing prescriptions to appropriate personnel, and so much more, mean that you’ll never have a dull moment.

Phlebotomist

If you get queasy easily, this may not be the right job for you. As a phlebotomist, your main tasks each day will be to collect samples of urine and blood, so candidates for this position need to be comfortable with needles. You’ll also have to be able to best determine how to extract the blood from a patient, especially ones with thin or spotty veins, all while making sure the patient is experiencing a minimal amount of discomfort. Phlebotomists can make anywhere from $10 to $12 an hour, averaging around $23,000 a year.

Partner with Us

If you are looking for a job in the healthcare industry, or even seeking to advance your current career, HealthCare Support can help. With resources like interview tips and job openings, finding a job in healthcare has never been easier. We take the top talent in the industry and pair them with the best jobs in their area to make lasting relationships. To learn more, or to take advantage of all our vast resources, join our Talent Network.

How to Improve Your Healthcare Job Listing

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Talent are always looking for jobs, especially in the healthcare industry, so why is it that your job listing isn’t getting any hits? Believe it or not, job seekers look for some very specific things when on a healthcare job search that will either draw or deter them from your listing. When putting together a description of the job, here are some things to keep in mind.

Be accurate

When making a first impression on a potential employee, you want to be clear but concise. After someone is hired, you can make the titles more detailed or creative, but when first attracting talent you don’t want to confuse them with company-specific or vague titles. The more specific you are, the less time you will waste, as you’ll be attracting the right people.

Use keywords

Use specific keywords to help your listing show up first in a healthcare job search. Keywords not only help your job rank higher in a search engine, but they are also the terms a potential employee would be looking for in their new role. Match up your keywords precisely to the job you are filling.

Be specific

Use bullet points to help your requirements stand out, include a salary range and the location of the job. By including the wages and business location in your listing, you can help job seekers determine on their own if they are qualified for the job, saving you more time. If a candidate sees your listing with a salary less than what they are accustomed to being paid, they will know they are overqualified for that job and move on.

What We Do

As a client of HealthCare Support, we do all of this for you. First, we meet with you to discuss the position in detail. Next, we go to our internal database of 1 million plus candidates to find a match and post to several top-notch job boards. When the applications start rolling in we filter through them finding the crème de la crème to schedule an interview with you. If you’d like to learn more about how we can assist in your healthcare job search take a look at Our Process video or give us a call today at 407-478-0332.

Claims Examiner/Auditor

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Are you a seasoned healthcare claims professional with experience in claims auditing and examination seeking a fulfilling position with a respected healthcare company? Are you looking for the opportunity to advance and grow with a prestigious healthcare organization? If this describes you, this position can be the start of a great career.

Job Responsibilities

  • Examine, review, and process claims
  • Interpret claim forms
  • Analyze claims costs
  • Coordinate benefits
  • Resolve claims through approval or denial
  • Conduct routine and complex claims audits
  • Document findings, approvals, and recommendations
  • Analyze trends, successes, and issues in claims process
  • Recommend desirable workflow and business rules refinements to improve the company claims process when applicable
  • Perform reports on claims analysis
  • Run audit reports and random checks
  • Support the company’s audit needs
  • Provide feedback of findings to the Claims and Auditing departments for quality improvement
  • Claims research for new CMS, Medicaid, and Commercial rules and guidelines
  • Maintain and support quality customer service

Minimum Requirements

  • High school graduate, some college preferred
  • One year prior experience as a claims examiner/auditor in a healthcare environment
  • Extensive knowledge of claims and auditing process
  • Knowledge of and adherence to accepted standards of health policy provisions and guidelines
  • Possess strong verbal, written, and interpersonal communications skills
  • Attention to detail
  • Knowledge of medical coding systems and terminology
  • Computer Software proficiency, i.e. Microsoft Office, Excel, PowerPoint, and ACCESS
  • Strong organizational skills
  • Ability to multi-task and prioritize
  • Strong adherence to confidentiality of claims information

Advantages of this Opportunity

  • Competitive salary commiserate with experience
  • Health benefits available
  • Fun and encouraging work environment
  • Opportunity to make an impact in the healthcare field

Apply today for a fulfilling and rewarding career experience.

Coder

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Are you a skilled and experienced medical coder? Do you hope to impact patient lives and advance your career by joining a prestigious healthcare company? If you answered “yes” to these queries – this is the position for you!

Typical Job Duties

  • Perform inpatient and outpatient medical billing and coding functions
  • Review medical records and documentation to ensure compliance with coding of modifiers, diagnoses, and procedures
  • Interact with physicians
  • Provide feedback to doctors
  • Submit documentation needed
  • Sort out issues and settle questions with third-party payers, patients, billing departments, and physicians
  • Coordinate coding and documentation-related billing processes for compliance

Desired Skills and Qualifications

  • Minimum of 1-year coding experience
  • Completion of a Certified Professional Coder course of study
  • Coder Licensing/certification from AAPC/AHIMA, or at least one of the following:
    • Certificate Coding Specialist (CCS)
    • Certified Coding Specialist – Physician (CCS-P)
    • Certified Professional Medical Coder (CPC)
    • Certified Billing and Coding Specialist (CBCS/CMAA)
    • Professional Medical Coder Outpatient Hospital (COC)
    • Board of Medical Specialty Coding (BMSC)
    • Registered Health Information Technologist (RHIT)
    • Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA)
  • Sub-specialty certification is a plus (i.e. Certified Interventional Radiology Cardiology Coder, CIRCC)
  • Adept at extracting codes from physician notes
  • Detailed knowledge and experience in medical coding systems (i.e. CPT, ICD-9, and ICD-10)
  • Versed in medical terminology
  • Analytical skills
  • Detail oriented
  • Good written and verbal communications skills
  • Multi-tasker with the ability to prioritize to meet deadlines
  • Works well without supervision
  • Advanced computer skills in MS Word, Excel and Outlook, and Adobe Acrobat
  • Experience with payer portals and medical/EMR software
  • Type a minimum of 55 WPM

Advantages of this Job Opportunity

  • Competitive salary
  • Health care benefits
  • Challenging and engaging work environment

Client Service Representative

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Are you a people-person with a strong desire to help others? Have you worked in the health care field and discovered a drive to be an integral part of this industry? If you’re an experienced Client Services Representative with these career goals, we want to hear from you!

Description of Daily Responsibilities

  • Act as a primary contact with clients for service-related activities
  • Build professional client relationships
  • Maintain client and customer relations
  • Manage claim documentation
  • Complete ROI requests and respond to same
  • Enter case-related information into company database
  • Communicate professionally with nurse case managers and referring adjusters
  • Handle inbound calls to resolve client matters within established guidelines
  • Troubleshoot client problems
  • Review scanned documents for accuracy
  • Report generation
  • Perform periodic quality checks
  • Assist and provide information to walk-ins
  • Participate in QA reviews
  • Identify recurring issues and report to team members
  • Provide office and administrative support, as needed

Desirable Qualifications

  • High School diploma
  • One year of administrative or client support experience in the health care field OR an Associate Degree in a related field
  • Knowledge of and strict compliance with HIPAA
  • Sound critical thinking skills and problem-solving abilities
  • Proficient in computer programs, such as MS Word, Excel and Outlook
  • Working knowledge of service management tools and software helpful (i.e. Rep On Line, eSmartLog, and SmartLink)
  • Ability to identify and meet customer needs with skill and ingenuity
  • Excellent verbal and interpersonal communication skills
  • Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment
  • Adaptable to change
  • Detail oriented
  • Team oriented

4 Tips for a New LPN in an LTC Facility

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No matter how well prepared you feel after graduating from nursing school, starting a new job as a Licensed Practical Nurse can be scary and overwhelming, especially when you’re starting at a long-term care facility. To quickly become accustomed to your new job, we’ve put together a list of the top four tips from nurses in the field on how to stay calm and organized while you acclimate to your new patients and facility.

Make a List

Each patient you will encounter is unique, and therefore has their own way of doing things If they are a regular patient of yours, write down their name and a list of the meds they take and how they take Do they need the pills to be crushed? Are they taken with certain beverages? Doing this will prevent you from running back and forth, saving you valuable time.

Be Patient

Speed comes with time. Don’t set your expectations so high, especially when you are first starting out, or else you’ll get discouraged too easily. Take your time with things, so you do them right, and keep a cool head. Eventually, your daily routines will become muscle memory, and the rate at which you get them done will never be an issue.

Ask Questions

And be open to criticism. If you encounter older or more experienced LPNs willing to give you advice; listen to them. They know the ropes of your new facility, and will often be able to give you specific tricks and tips on how to handle the most difficult patients or co-workers.

If You’re Working with CNAs, Respect Them

As the ones who get down and dirty, certified nursing assistance are often undervalued. Treat them with respect, even if they do not live up to your expectations, and your whole facility will run smoother. If you notice they have forgotten to turn, bathe, or give proper assistance to a patient, gently remind them. They’ll be grateful you cared enough to tell

How We’ll Help

If you’re fresh out of school or just looking for a new job in the healthcare industry, HealthCare Support can help you. Search for jobs, join our network, or check out some of the resources we have available tailored just for you. With the ever-changing demands of the healthcare industry, you’ll need someone like us on your side. For more information, give us a call today at 407-478-0332.

Michael E

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I appreciate the follow up regarding my well being with in my position. It is amazing that it has already been almost 8 months since I started working on this temporary to permanent contract through Healthcare Support. It has been quite challenging from day one learning a new job which was quite different out of all my previous jobs I have had so far in the medical field. I had enjoy the system and what I do everyday the moment I sit down at my desk- something like the CEO from Humana feels on a short video as he describes his everyday feelings as “invigorating”.

Working in the approval request department where we call our members after with the final outcome has taught me how precious and delicate life is. To be that voice that members are eagerly waiting to hear about the status of their referral and as to whether they will have the awaiting medical procedure; the diagnostic imaging study for further treatment on their recent diagnosis; the medication so desperately needed to alleviate their pain, discomfort or illness treatment; the desired medical equipment needed to alleviate their daily needs are just some of the examples on how much and valuable my job is. It is in their voices of gratefulness that makes me be “there” for our members and value and appreciate what I do. Thank you!

When is the Best Time for an Interview?

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When it comes to interviewing for a dream job, a lot of the responsibility rests on you to make a good impression. However, knowing what to wear or how to prepare can only get you so far in some cases. A lot also depends upon how your interviewer is feeling. One way to ensure that the person conducting your interview is attentive and open, is to schedule your meeting at a specific time. Here are some tips on how to decide what time would be best to set up an interview with a particular company.

Try to avoid Fridays

Unless suggested by the hiring manager, Fridays are normally not good days to hold an interview. The office will either be winding down from the past week or thinking about their weekend plans. Either way, interviewing on a Friday may result in a distracted interviewer. Opt for one of the ‘hump days’ in the middle of the work week when the interviewer will be more focused and grounded in their work.

Don’t let them go hungry

Some say the best time for an interview is around 10:30, when the day is still fresh, but it isn’t too close to lunch. Avoid dealing with a hungry interviewer by either scheduling your meeting well before lunch, or a little bit after lunch.

The early bird gets the worm

In situations where the company you’re interviewing for needs to make a decision quickly, you always want to be their first option. Find out how soon they are looking to fill the position, or if they sound frantic about it. If so, take the soonest available slot they have open. Almost always, when a company needs a quick hire and there is not much to be deliberated, they’ll go with their first option.

The Time is Now

The interviewing process is delicate, and timing is everything. We at HealthCare Support understand that, which is why we’ve pulled together tools to help you find jobs that are a good fit for you in the healthcare industry. We also provide you with resources to help you nail any interviews you schedule. Now is the time for you to get that job you’ve always wanted, and we can help. To learn more, give us a call at 407-478-0332.

What You Need to Know About the Anthem-Cigna Merge

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When massive healthcare companies, like Anthem and Cigna, attempt to get together, it means drastic changes are coming to the healthcare industry. The merge is currently up in the air, but there are speculations as to what could happen if the two end up joining. In the meantime, here’s what you need to know.

  • The deal was originally presented back in July of 2015, with both Cigna and Anthem on board, and no expected obstacles to hurdle over.
  • The goal of this merger and other large healthcare merges like this, was to grow the bigger healthcare providers in order to decrease overall cost to consumers.
  • If the merge were to go through, the new Anthem merge would be expected to cover over 53.2 million people.
  • The experts have overall mixed reviews. 46% expect the merge to have an adverse impact on consumer healthcare while 21% see it resulting in cost advantages. Still, about one-third of people do not expect to see any large impact from the merge at all.
  • As of February 14th, 2017, Cigna Corp announced that it would be breaking off its agreement with Anthem Inc., as a federal judge blocked the merge on antitrust grounds.
  • Around the same time, two other insurance giants abandoned their merge as well, Aetna Inc. and Humana Inc.
  • Cigna has now filed a lawsuit against Anthem for a $1.85 billion termination fee and $13 billion in damages.

What’s Happening Now?

Anthem recently filed an appeal to fight the antitrust charges, which was granted a speedy process in February of 2017, although the Department of Justice is still against the merge. The DOJ is saying that Anthem had no real plan of lowering medical costs for its consumers and that it was ‘purely aspirational.’ With no proof of how it would help save on medical expenses in the long run, the DOJ is against the merge.  In fact, the fear is that the merge would eliminate competition amongst healthcare providers, driving up overall costs. Anthem filed for a temporary restraining order to keep Cigna from terminating their deal, which was granted. However, since Cigna has not dropped its lawsuit against Anthem, their compliance with the deal is still unclear. The deadline for the merger is April 30th.

Stay Up-To-Date

The world of healthcare is always changing. Luckily, you can trust Heath Care Support to keep you up to date on the latest news. Our client resources are here to help you better navigate through whatever new laws, current events, or changes that may be happening. If you have questions or would like to speak to one of our experts, call us today at 407-478-0332.