Author Topic: What to do with work overload  (Read 2236 times)

williamportor

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What to do with work overload
« on: October 31, 2018, 06:35:11 PM »
After 4+  years my business is finally on the fast track, good news of course, but now it's a bit too good. I'm only 1 person and am swamped with work. 2 new providers have big billing mess's to clean up, this + the daily production billing means 6-7 day work weeks, and 50 - 60 hrs a week. I need help! Any suggestions for someone who works from home and needs a PT person to do data entry?? 

PMRNC

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Re: What to do with work overload
« Reply #1 on: November 01, 2018, 09:47:36 AM »
I see so many newbies want to go straight from school to remote so I would be very careful of where you look for workers. Why not contact your local colleges and see about getting an intern? You fill out some papers, the college arranges a few good fit's for you to interview.

If you want to do an ad, I would do it in your own local area papers. Try to get someone local you can keep an eye on.  I'd also drop the 'data entry" if you do any sort of classified ad. With the new tax laws in place go for a true IC contract make sure you confer with IRS on such arrangement. Make sure they carry their own insurance too!  I'd also maybe have interviewee's do a test that will be relevant to the work you will be having them do. 

Over the years I was right where you were a few times and to me I never went beyond the line to hire anyone remote. I have my daughter helping now which has really helped take some of the burden off me. Next years tax returns are going to be a big challenge for us small businesses so you need to look at the big picture.
Linda Walker
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Michele

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Re: What to do with work overload
« Reply #2 on: November 01, 2018, 11:14:44 AM »
Congrats!  So glad to hear you are doing so well.  :)

We have used interns many times.  For the most part it has been great.  Two of our current employees started as interns.  We had another that was a great employee for a few years but moved on due to family situations.  Of all of the interns we only ever had one that was a complete dud.  Couldn't even use a mouse!  We actually told her she should try to get her money back from the school.  She was from a different school than the others.  Most of our interns come from a local community college.  They are thrilled that we take the interns.  They try to pair us up with someone that's a good fit.  Someone that's looking for a position similar to what we offer.  That way it's not a waste of time.  Interns can be a great way to try out an employee without spending money.  And the training period is free which is also a plus.  Training can be very time consuming.

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PMRNC

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Re: What to do with work overload
« Reply #3 on: November 05, 2018, 05:47:54 PM »
The incentive of course for intern is the credit :) So they do work harder! I've actually seen billing companies find their interns learn more from them they did the whole billing/coding courses at the school!
Linda Walker
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Michele

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Re: What to do with work overload
« Reply #4 on: November 06, 2018, 12:22:12 PM »
We find that the interns that we get from the school near us have a great base knowledge, but no real experience.  But they have worked out great.  They have enough background that they pick things up quick.  Whenever we are ready to hire that is the first place we turn.  We have even hired when we didn't really have the need because the intern was good and we didn't want to lose them.

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Re: What to do with work overload
« Reply #4 on: November 06, 2018, 12:22:12 PM »

williamportor

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Re: What to do with work overload
« Reply #5 on: November 07, 2018, 03:12:13 PM »
Thanks for the feedback folks. No response from the colleges yet, but will keep looking. Maybe ziprecruter next...

kristin

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Re: What to do with work overload
« Reply #6 on: November 07, 2018, 11:38:37 PM »
Good luck with ZipRecruiter. I recently used them to try to fill a position at my office, and I was sadly dismayed by the responses to my job posting. Of the 15 or so responses I got, most resumes were riddled with errors, the phone numbers for those who were decent applicants were disconnected/not working, and sending emails to applicants with bad phone numbers yielded no responses. Hopefully, you will have better luck if you go that route. You may want to try Indeed, which could have better applicants. We also reached out to local colleges first like you, with no response. Eventually we ended up hiring someone via a patient, who had a family member looking for a job, and it has worked out great. Do you know of a personal connect like that? It may be the way to go.

PMRNC

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Re: What to do with work overload
« Reply #7 on: November 16, 2018, 03:28:12 PM »
With the colleges you have better shot with community colleges and work directly with their billing/coding program. Just reaching out to them is not enough you have to find the ones that either have an intern program or are looking for more employers to start one. Each college has their own process.  There is usually an application process you have to go through to qualify first. If approved then they usually give you a form to complete on qualifications you are looking for in the intern. (be flexible but be practical).  A few years back I was going through a growth spurt and I really didn't think of things I wanted so when they started to send applicants to me there were a few sent to me that I would NEVER put in front of any of my clients. For example, if you need your intern to deliver reports to clients or any other task that needs them in front of the doctor you do need to specify image as a must. On the form I had to fill out there was a check mark for "Image and appearance " then scale of 1-10 with 1 being of no concern and 10 being large concern. I didn't even check the box. I had a couple sent over to me and on interview showed up in ripped jeans, tattoo's/piercings in places they could not cover. I had sort of complained to the school but they told me I didn't get specific on tasks or image importance. Another example is NOT to be too stringent with qualifications in regards to medical billing like use of a specific PM system, etc. I'll tell you why. 99.9% of the time, students coming out of these medical billing courses from community colleges and even universities are NOT learning nearly half of what they need to do. Instead you might want to create your own internal profficiency test including asking them what the diff between copay and coinsurance means, what is a participating provider? What is Medicaid, etc.. very basic!!!   Then I would actually have them do another on HIPAA ..ESPECIALLY if you are going to have them work remote and access/view or transmit any PHI.

Indeed is "ok" ..but again I would be really cautious and very detailed about your expectations. I still would have a proficiency test and make sure they know HIPAA both privacy and security!!!  I know this sounds very anal but if I were to hire remote, I want to see their workplace/station and I want a HIPAA Risk Assessment done if they will be your employee you can do that include them in yours (BA's are required to have them anyway).
Linda Walker
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Re: What to do with work overload
« Reply #7 on: November 16, 2018, 03:28:12 PM »