Author Topic: Employees working at home  (Read 12766 times)

williamportor

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Employees working at home
« on: September 23, 2012, 05:16:20 PM »
Hello Everyone- My business is growing, and I'll soon be hiring my first employee. I had an idea I would like to share. I'm wondering if it's possible to hire employee's to do data entry and other aspects of the billing process, and allow them to work from their own homes as well. As the owner, one would have to set up a system to insure employees were working when they were supposed to, and producing the required amount of work each workday. If sucessful however, this would allow one to grow their company, and continue to add employees as needed without the expense of renting office space, or having their employees occupy the owners' home for hours each day. I submit my claims to a clearinghouse, and have a 96% paid record. Does this kind of business model seem possible? and if so, what kind of software and/or other techology would be required to make this kind of system a reality?  :) 

PMRNC

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Re: Employees working at home
« Reply #1 on: September 23, 2012, 05:32:55 PM »
I for one (BY MY OWN PERSONA CHOICE) won't do this. A. it's too much liability. you have to up your E/O and you take full responsibility and liability. and B. I'm just a control freak who no one in their right mind would work with me. LOL

I guess it could be done, of course you have to update compliance plans, policies procedures, E/O insurance, and BAA agreements.  You could find remote solutions such as logmein.com or if you already use a web based PM system you can talk to them about access for employee's (keeping in mind HIPAA login/remote requirements)

Not saying it can't be done. When I started I knew my goal was never to get as big as to lose control or take on too much liability.   I also hate the term data entry in regards to employee's.  No such thing, data entry is clearly downgrading the responsibility.   Just my 2 cents.
Linda Walker
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Michele

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Re: Employees working at home
« Reply #2 on: September 24, 2012, 01:30:21 PM »
I agree with Linda.  I do not allow employees to work from home.  IMO it's just never as productive.  I'm sure there is an exception to this rule but it's not worth the chances. I've heard to many horror stories from people who have done it.
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PMRNC

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Re: Employees working at home
« Reply #3 on: September 24, 2012, 01:53:00 PM »
I have a good friend I met back when I started who grew her business VERY quickly.. she hired 2 in house employee's, things were great, then she had to move so the employee's worked remotely. One of them ended up stealing clients (despite a non compete which don't hold up in court) and the other one tried to claim more work than was done and stole about $10,000 from her this way.   JMHO but if I can't stand over them, I won't hire them.
Linda Walker
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Cpatel

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Re: Employees working at home
« Reply #4 on: September 25, 2012, 04:19:40 PM »
I agree with Michelle and Linda. I will never allow employee to work from home from day one.


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Re: Employees working at home
« Reply #4 on: September 25, 2012, 04:19:40 PM »

williamportor

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Re: Employees working at home
« Reply #5 on: October 01, 2012, 11:56:50 AM »
Thank You for your input everyone. It looks like I'll be expanding my home office, to include a few employees. :)

rdmoore2003

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Re: Employees working at home
« Reply #6 on: October 02, 2012, 06:44:49 PM »
at one point I worked from home 1 day a week.   When I did the remote into the server, it would track the time that I worked.  It was set to show exactly how long I was in each account and give the information on what i did in each account.  with a system like that, i would not have issues with employees working from home, but it would be just the 1 day a week.

PMRNC

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Re: Employees working at home
« Reply #7 on: October 02, 2012, 07:37:39 PM »
While I can see that would be a bit more comforting for certain reasons, it's not assurance of compliance issues. For example, if you have an employee working off her home computer which happens to be the kids computer or the hubby's computer or maybe they have an unlocked filing cabinet. Sounds like small things but can be big headaches. If they are your employee no matter where they work, your closet, your office, their home, you are ultimately responsible for their compliance and there's no way to assure that without taking proper steps, IMHO I would have to have someone working with me (in house) for a while before I could take those risks. Plus the added liability goes on your insurance as well. You will need to add each employee to your E/O policy in order to be covered.
Linda Walker
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rdmoore2003

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Re: Employees working at home
« Reply #8 on: October 03, 2012, 12:55:15 PM »
I completely agree with you Linda.  I had to work for almost a year in house before I had the chance to work from home.  I had to get a new puter to do this and employer set everything on it for the home -work.   it was alot to do to be compliant, but it is not for everyone..it is so involved that i did not do it for long.  it was easier just to go into office

Michele

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Re: Employees working at home
« Reply #9 on: October 03, 2012, 02:50:18 PM »
As the owner, I work from home quite often but honestly it is a pain.  I can never quite finish anything.  I can't file or get anything filed, I can't fax or photocopy or get anything I print.  When I come in I have to go thru the work I did at home and 'finish' it.  That is another reason that I don't want my employees working from home.  It is not the most efficient.  But for me, it is a necessity.  :)
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Re: Employees working at home
« Reply #9 on: October 03, 2012, 02:50:18 PM »

medco

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Re: Employees working at home
« Reply #10 on: October 17, 2012, 06:08:47 PM »
Hello,

I have a question about starting my own medical billing business at home. I worked for a doctor for the past 8 yrs. Is it possible to do billing from home by logging into the doctor's own computer? Or do I have to buy software? I have no idea. Please help.

PMRNC

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Re: Employees working at home
« Reply #11 on: October 17, 2012, 06:14:15 PM »
It depends on how you will be structured, are you an employee of this doctor? If so they are responsible for all costs, software, computer, etc.. That's why it's not cost efficient for a provider to hire someone as an employee to work from home, their costs are more and liability is more. 

There are several structures:   employee, sub-contractor, business     who buys what depends on that.
Linda Walker
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www.billerswebsite.com

rdmoore2003

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Re: Employees working at home
« Reply #12 on: October 17, 2012, 06:40:57 PM »
It depends on how you will be structured, are you an employee of this doctor? If so they are responsible for all costs, software, computer, etc.. That's why it's not cost efficient for a provider to hire someone as an employee to work from home, their costs are more and liability is more. 

Yes it is possible, but I do agree with Linda.  It is not what it seems.  I have worked from home and signed to the server at work, but when you need to make calls, do you want patients to know your home # (caller id) and its just not what its cracked up to be.

medco

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Re: Employees working at home
« Reply #13 on: October 17, 2012, 06:50:17 PM »
When I worked at the doctors office my bosses wife would go into the computer and do some work from home. Do all doctors computers have the ability to do billing? I am starting a new business. I was told I could just log into their computer and do the work. Could you tell me what would be my best avenue to travel down. Thanks

rdmoore2003

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Re: Employees working at home
« Reply #14 on: October 17, 2012, 06:53:19 PM »
you have to get the IP address from the server.  input it into your computer and sign on.  that is how I did it.   if you are firm about doing this, I suggest that you get a new computer for just the office work. 

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Re: Employees working at home
« Reply #14 on: October 17, 2012, 06:53:19 PM »