Medical Transcriptionist
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Friday, November 30, 2012
Thursday, November 29, 2012
How to Find Work from Home - Administrative Assistant (Secretary/ Medical Administrative Assistant)Jobs
Working as an administrative assistant from home is a good alternative job that can guarantee good income, but mostly really flexible hours, while saving on commuting, clothing and possibly on other, indirect, costs. Besides, many employers prefer to outsource administrative work than paying a hired employee in house.To find such job opportunities, which are often referred to as virtual administrative assistant positions, you need to follow several steps:
*Prepare a strong resume to highlight any administrative work experience. Your future employer is mostly concerned with your level of experience and how this can benefit their organization. Therefore, is extremely important to have a well-structured resume and to list any relevant working experience, volunteer work, education and awards or certifications granted. Besides, your resume should include outstanding referrals and testimonials to certify the quality of your work.
*Posting your resume on the Internet will help you discover some wonderful job opportunities, but will also enhance your options to be discovered by potential employers. The Web is increasingly becoming the home of a variety of job databases and freelance job postings where you may find job openings looking for virtual administrative assistants. On several job boards you may list your hourly work rates or the fees required for a specific project and you may post your resume online so that employers can contact you directly. Some of the most popular resources for job openings and resume posting for virtual administrative assistants are indeed.com, virtualassistants.com, virtualassistantjobs.com, and virtual-assistant-advice.com. Other websites that offer opportunities for freelance work are RentACoder.com and Elance.com.
*Besides posting your resume on the Internet looking for virtual assistant jobs, you need to shop your skills to area business. This includes informing business owners in your area about the benefits of hiring you as a virtual administrative assistant. By providing a cover letter and your resume you could possibly create a new position that would require working from home as a virtual assistant for a local business. All you need is good tactics for approaching local business owners in order to become a full-time employee or an independent contractor.
*Address your inquiry to organizations such as the International Virtual Assistants Association (IVAA.org) and the International Association of Virtual Office Assistants (IAVOA.com). Such organizations provide virtual assistants with training, certification, events, and networking to equip them with the necessary skills to perform tasks like setting appointments, word processing, spreadsheets, emailing and posting mail correspondences, electronic filling, and transcription from the comfort of their own home. Besides, you need to possess great communication skills, ability to multitask, excellent typing skills, and proficient skills in grammar and writing.
*Finally, you can always make the transition to working from home if you are currently employed as an administrative assistant in house. Explore your options with your current employer. In many cases, employers are willing to have their administrative assistants to work from home, trading off for a free office and saving money in office expenses.
To be qualified as a virtual administrative assistant you may possess a high school diploma or even a graduate degree. It all depends on the employer's needs, the type of business that you work for and the specific project. However, although there are no standard educational requirements to be hired as a VAA, you need to possess computer skills and be familiar with MS Office and different kinds of software. You may also pursue continuing education classes at a local community college in order to acquire the necessary skills and get further training in a particular area. Besides, there are numerous websites that provide virtual administrative assistant training for a fee, but you need to check if they are credible. As there is no nationally accredited virtual assistant training certification, some of these websites may be a fraud.
Another consideration is to have the proper equipment and resources in order to be able to work from home as you would do in house. This means you need to be equipped with a computer with a high speed Internet connection, fax machine, a printer/scanner/copier, two landlines and a home office that can promote a proper work environment.
Christina Pomoni, Yahoo! Contributor Network
http://voices.yahoo.com/how-find-work-home-administrative-assistant-5486485.html?cat=31
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Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Working from home Myths
So many people, especially those in management positions have false ideas about remote work and what it involves. Learning to distinguish reality from the myths will help enable and empower more companies to implement remote work programs. Working remotely requires mobile professionals not to buy into the myths, and instead promote the reality and potential that remote work arrangements can provide. Discover the myths of remote work and how to prevent them from becoming reality.1. Get Up When You Want Myth
Myth
You will still be bound by the hours of operation of your work place, so thinking that you don't have to start working until noon is a very bad idea to have and an even worse practice to get into.
Fact
You rely on onsite co-workers to be available when you need them, so it's important that you are considerate of their needs. Even when traveling you must still let your office be aware of when and where you can be reached, with applicable time differences taken into account.
2. Work When You Want Myth
Myth
Working when you want is part of the appeal of remote work. The reality is that you may be restricted to working within a specified set of hours each day. For example, some companies only have their computer system available and running for a set period each day. The system is not available beyond that time.
Fact
The hours you work should be put into any Remote Work Agreement to avoid problems and misunderstanding.
3. Work in Your PJ's Myth
Myth
You can work in your pj's every day or even work naked! Dress rules no longer apply.
Fact
People who get dressed properly each morning tend to have higher productivity and feel better about themselves.
Some people set up a routine for themselves where they get up and proceed just as though they were going to the office.
When traveling, you may wish to wear more casual attire until you reach your destination, then change into your suit or other appropriate attire.
4. All Play and No Work Myth
Myth
You can spend all day playing the latest computer games or work on perfecting your golf scores. You don't have to account to anyone for your time.
Fact
You will get found out and you could risk losing your job - not just the remote work arrangement. Save game playing for non-work time. When traveling by air or rail, play should be a last priority and only if completing any work is not possible.
Think of the impression you leave with others who may see you.
5. Social Phone Calls All Day
Myth
You can spend all day talking with friends and family. You don't have to worry about co-workers trying to reach you.
Fact
Tying up your phone with personal calls may cause you to miss important work related calls. This is very true when traveling as you may not have Internet access and cannot check e-mail as often. If you use your cell phone often and for non-work related matters you will be responsible for the charges incurred.
6. Visit with Family & Friends Myth
Myth
Spending time visiting eases isolation and is great while traveling.
Fact
Whether you are working from your home office or traveling to other locations, you should not use company time for visiting. Doing so violates the trust placed in you and shows no respect for the company that you work for.
7. Never See the Office Again
Myth
You will never have to return to the office site again, for any reason.
Fact
For some this just may be one of the biggest reasons to work remotely. You can avoid all the distractions, stay out of the politics and rumor mills. This is not realistic.
If one reason that has motivated your desire to work remotely is to get away from people in the office, please don't broadcast that! It is in your best interest to keep quiet and just enjoy privately that you won't have to be there.
8. Royal Treatment
Myth
You are owed and entitled to all the luxuries that hotels offer while traveling, on the company dime of course.
Fact
If you believe this, you are mistaken.
You are not there for your personal pleasure and the bills are being paid by your company. Use common sense when traveling and don't go overboard with room service or other expensive activities unless you are prepared to pay for them yourself and use them on your own time.
9. Gadgets Galore
Myth
You need all the latest and greatest gadgets known to work remotely.
Fact
Use only the mobile gear that allows you to accomplish your job and that is absolutely required to do so.
Your company has a budget to follow and providing mobile workers with all the latest and greatest mobile gear can have significant impact on their bottom line.
Remember part of the appeal remote work offers company is saving money - eating the budget with mobile gear defeats that purpose.
10. Out of Sight = Out of Mind
Myth
You will be forgotten about and never receive another promotion or raise again.
Fact
Just because you are not in the office everyday does not mean you have fallen off the promotion track. With well trained managers and proper evaluation procedures in place, remote workers should have no fear of losing out on promotions because of their work environment.
From Catherine Roseberry, former About.com Guide
http://mobileoffice.about.com/od/getmobilized/tp/mythsreality.htm
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Monday, November 26, 2012
Work from home - Happy at home Medical Biller
Due to the rapid growth of the healthcare industry, Medical Billing and Coding professionals have become incredibly in-demand in the workforce. Because of this great need for certified Medical Professionals, at-home jobs and consulting start-ups have become more common in this field.
How Does At Home Medical Billing Work?
There are generally two types at-home Medical Billing jobs: Professionals who work for an in-house Medical Billing department, but are able to perform their job out of their home, and at home consultants who do Medical Billing on contract for a variety of different companies.
Medical Billers Who Work For a Company
In most cases, it is very difficult to get a Medical Billing job that allows you to work from home without first establishing yourself as a reliable worker within a company. Medical Billers have a lot of financial responsibility with a doctor’s office or firm, and therefore your employer must find you to be detail oriented, responsible, and trustworthy. However, once you establish yourself at a company, it is very possible to make the switch to at-home medical billing.
Medical Billing Consultants
Medical Billing consultants work independently, and acquire clients whom they bill for on a freelance basis. Smaller offices or clinics that don’t want to hire a full-time employee or offer benefits may choose this type of Medical Billing professional. To start your own at home business, begin by writing your business plan, registering your business, printing business cards, and building a website. Then market your services to smaller companies in your area. Also scope out the job boards for offices in the healthcare industry that are hiring a Medical Biller, and offer them your services as an alternative.
At home Medical Billers will perform the following functions:
• Prepare statements for the insurance companies
• Entering patient information into Medical Billng software
• Mailing statements to patients
• Posting payments
• Managing unpaid claims
• Submitting Medical Billing reports to doctors
• Answering patient payment questions
At-Home Medical Billing Requirements
To do Medical Billing out of your home, you need a few supplies to make your business a success:
• A quiet office space
• Storage for files and patient records
• An area for assembling mailings
• Computer
• Printer
• Internet Access
• Telephone
• Fax Machine
• Copier
Medical Billing From Home Scams
Unfortunately, due to the popularity of working from home as a Medical Biller, many scams that misrepresent themselves as real jobs have surfaced. These types of scams are posted on websites such as Craigslist, and other job sites, and generally require you to pay them for a kit or some kind of guide that allows you to start your own business. How To Protect Yourself Constantly be on the lookout for scams. If a job requires you to pay a fee up front, it may be a scam.
There are also a few other steps you can follow to ensure that you are getting a legitimate work at home job.
• Ask for a list of references of other people who have purchased the “Getting Started” kit or guide. Make sure they give you more than just one or two; instead, require a list of names so that you can pick and choose whom you are going to contact.
• Check the name of the hiring company with the Better Business Bureau and the Attorney General’s Office to see if any previous purchasers have filed any complaints against them.
• Search for the name of the company online. Often, disappointed customers will blog about their negative experience, or submit the name of the company that scammed them to discussion boards.
• If the hiring company is asking you to purchase a certain type of software, contact the company that makes the software and ask if there are any common problems or complaints that they are aware of.
• Allow a lawyer to review any contracts that you are asked to sign to make sure that they are legitimate and to explain portions of the contract that you don’t understand.
http://medicalbillingjumpstart.com/work-from-home/
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How Does At Home Medical Billing Work?
There are generally two types at-home Medical Billing jobs: Professionals who work for an in-house Medical Billing department, but are able to perform their job out of their home, and at home consultants who do Medical Billing on contract for a variety of different companies.
Medical Billers Who Work For a Company
In most cases, it is very difficult to get a Medical Billing job that allows you to work from home without first establishing yourself as a reliable worker within a company. Medical Billers have a lot of financial responsibility with a doctor’s office or firm, and therefore your employer must find you to be detail oriented, responsible, and trustworthy. However, once you establish yourself at a company, it is very possible to make the switch to at-home medical billing.
Medical Billing Consultants
Medical Billing consultants work independently, and acquire clients whom they bill for on a freelance basis. Smaller offices or clinics that don’t want to hire a full-time employee or offer benefits may choose this type of Medical Billing professional. To start your own at home business, begin by writing your business plan, registering your business, printing business cards, and building a website. Then market your services to smaller companies in your area. Also scope out the job boards for offices in the healthcare industry that are hiring a Medical Biller, and offer them your services as an alternative.
At home Medical Billers will perform the following functions:
• Prepare statements for the insurance companies
• Entering patient information into Medical Billng software
• Mailing statements to patients
• Posting payments
• Managing unpaid claims
• Submitting Medical Billing reports to doctors
• Answering patient payment questions
At-Home Medical Billing Requirements
To do Medical Billing out of your home, you need a few supplies to make your business a success:
• A quiet office space
• Storage for files and patient records
• An area for assembling mailings
• Computer
• Printer
• Internet Access
• Telephone
• Fax Machine
• Copier
Medical Billing From Home Scams
Unfortunately, due to the popularity of working from home as a Medical Biller, many scams that misrepresent themselves as real jobs have surfaced. These types of scams are posted on websites such as Craigslist, and other job sites, and generally require you to pay them for a kit or some kind of guide that allows you to start your own business. How To Protect Yourself Constantly be on the lookout for scams. If a job requires you to pay a fee up front, it may be a scam.
There are also a few other steps you can follow to ensure that you are getting a legitimate work at home job.
• Ask for a list of references of other people who have purchased the “Getting Started” kit or guide. Make sure they give you more than just one or two; instead, require a list of names so that you can pick and choose whom you are going to contact.
• Check the name of the hiring company with the Better Business Bureau and the Attorney General’s Office to see if any previous purchasers have filed any complaints against them.
• Search for the name of the company online. Often, disappointed customers will blog about their negative experience, or submit the name of the company that scammed them to discussion boards.
• If the hiring company is asking you to purchase a certain type of software, contact the company that makes the software and ask if there are any common problems or complaints that they are aware of.
• Allow a lawyer to review any contracts that you are asked to sign to make sure that they are legitimate and to explain portions of the contract that you don’t understand.
http://medicalbillingjumpstart.com/work-from-home/
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Thursday, November 22, 2012
Starting a Home Business: Computer Repair Technician
If you are thinking about starting a home business, you may be interested to look into becoming a computer repair technician. Since the computer generally goes to the technician, it is possible to have the office at any location - even at home, though there may be times when a technician has to go to fix the computer.
Requirements
For most computer work, you do need to have a good amount of either education or experience. Though there are programs and degrees to train new computer technicians, most education comes from hand-on experience, so find someone who is "street smart" in computer technology to help tutor you. You do need to have a certificate of recognition to enter into most fields of work.
Responsibilities
If you become a computer repair technician, you may include building new hardware or updating software to fix internal issues (and creating or maintaining networks involving the computer). Sometimes, you may not be needed for repair, but needed to maintain the quality of computer work. Some more experienced technicians may work in system administration or to recover data.
You will also be expected to provide valid technical support. There may be times when a customer wants to call you outside of business hours because of ongoing issues they are experiencing. You will need to know what your plan of action will be at this time. Will you take the call? Will you outsource it? Will you let the machine pick up? Make sure your customer knows their options as they work with you to avoid frustration later. Keep up to date with computer upgrades so that you will be able to easily discern what needs to be done.
Issues that you may face could include everything from huge projects replacing hardware and operating systems to small repairs caused by viruses.
Some hardware that you may work with includes laptops, scanners, desktops, printers and routers. When you are working on any part of a computer, it is important to back up the customer's information to the best of your ability to ensure no content is lost.
When you are working with software issues, you may deal with simple settings changes or completely reinstall the software. You must be aware that reinstalling software may cause some information to have some settings changed, or worse, information lost if not properly backed up
Self-Employment
To freelance as an at-home computer repair technician, make sure you have office space available to spread out your work. You must remain very organized as to not mix up customer information. If possible, only work on one customer's computer at a time.
Business Plan
Make a business plan, and decide how much work you will need to meet financial goals. Know your products and information, and be able to give both price and time estimates to your clients to help ensure customer satisfaction. Figure out your prices and polices and stick to them. You will need to get a business license from your local courthouse.
Advertising
Market yourself by advertising locally and having a website. Since, in most cases you will need to work with physical machinery, you will probably want to keep your business local. Let your friends know that you are opening your own business so that they will be able to refer customers to you as well. Contact local businesses and let them know that you are a computer repair technician, and they will most likely come to you rather than to a corporate location.
Customer Service
Be honest with your customer about their computer problems and show them that you respect them. To a lot of people, their compu
ters contain all their information for work and life, and it is hard when it is not working (and they have to entrust it to a stranger). Give them excellent customer service, and they will refer you to their friends when their friends need computer assistance.
It may be possible to become subcontracted by some smaller companies and work as a consultant for them. In those cases, make sure you can be available to them by giving other customers a little longer of a time estimate. This way, other customers will not become upset, and they may be pleased if you finish early.
http://www.wahm.com/articles/starting-a-home-business-computer-repair-technician.html
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Requirements
For most computer work, you do need to have a good amount of either education or experience. Though there are programs and degrees to train new computer technicians, most education comes from hand-on experience, so find someone who is "street smart" in computer technology to help tutor you. You do need to have a certificate of recognition to enter into most fields of work.
Responsibilities
If you become a computer repair technician, you may include building new hardware or updating software to fix internal issues (and creating or maintaining networks involving the computer). Sometimes, you may not be needed for repair, but needed to maintain the quality of computer work. Some more experienced technicians may work in system administration or to recover data.
Issues that you may face could include everything from huge projects replacing hardware and operating systems to small repairs caused by viruses.
Some hardware that you may work with includes laptops, scanners, desktops, printers and routers. When you are working on any part of a computer, it is important to back up the customer's information to the best of your ability to ensure no content is lost.
When you are working with software issues, you may deal with simple settings changes or completely reinstall the software. You must be aware that reinstalling software may cause some information to have some settings changed, or worse, information lost if not properly backed up
Self-Employment
To freelance as an at-home computer repair technician, make sure you have office space available to spread out your work. You must remain very organized as to not mix up customer information. If possible, only work on one customer's computer at a time.
Business Plan
Make a business plan, and decide how much work you will need to meet financial goals. Know your products and information, and be able to give both price and time estimates to your clients to help ensure customer satisfaction. Figure out your prices and polices and stick to them. You will need to get a business license from your local courthouse.
Advertising
Market yourself by advertising locally and having a website. Since, in most cases you will need to work with physical machinery, you will probably want to keep your business local. Let your friends know that you are opening your own business so that they will be able to refer customers to you as well. Contact local businesses and let them know that you are a computer repair technician, and they will most likely come to you rather than to a corporate location.
Customer Service
Be honest with your customer about their computer problems and show them that you respect them. To a lot of people, their compu
ters contain all their information for work and life, and it is hard when it is not working (and they have to entrust it to a stranger). Give them excellent customer service, and they will refer you to their friends when their friends need computer assistance.
It may be possible to become subcontracted by some smaller companies and work as a consultant for them. In those cases, make sure you can be available to them by giving other customers a little longer of a time estimate. This way, other customers will not become upset, and they may be pleased if you finish early.
http://www.wahm.com/articles/starting-a-home-business-computer-repair-technician.html
Contact Me
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Medical Transcription Explained
Medical transcription is a growing industry that's a good fit for some who want to work from home. However, there are some scams that you should avoid. The more informed you are about medical transcription, the more likely you'll pursue legitimate opportunities.
Medical Transcription Jobs
You can land a medical transcription job as a contractor. The primary duty is to transcribe what a doctor, or other health professional, dictates while giving medical care. Doctors and hospitals need to bill your health insurance (unless you're paying cash) to receive payment for the care you receive. Your health insurance company often requires reports, letters, and other written documents from the doctor detailing the care you received before they'll pay. Doctors don't have the time to transcribe those details. That's where a medical transcriptionist comes in. While some hospitals and doctors will hire an employee to do this, the majority of health care providers will outsource it to a medical transcriptionist. Other duties include identifying discrepancies in medical reports and amending patients' records.
The field is expanding as the aging population continues to grow and require more treatment. This results in the need for more transcriptionists to help with the paperwork required by health insurance companies and government programs.
Medical Transcription Certification
You don't need formal training for medical transcription, but having a certificate makes you competitive. Doctors sometimes prefer to hire those who have completed a certification program beyond high school. You can get certified at your local community college or through a distance-learning program. It usually takes 1 year to complete a course and become certified. The course will cover medical terminology, grammar, punctuation, etc. If you already have experience in the medical field, you can just take a refresher course and shorten the time it takes to get certified.
You can become a Registered Medical Transcriptionist (RMT) or a Certified Medical Transcriptionist (CMT). The issue of certification must be considered carefully because although some doctors prefer it, others will gladly outsource work to a non-certified transcriptionist overseas. As a result, you may have to work for low pay, and therefore paying for a certification course may not be worth the time and money.
Medical Transcription at Home
Digital dictation technology makes it possible for you to work from home as a medical transcriptionist. It allows dictations to be sent over emails. If they still use analog dictation, then you'll receive it by mail or courier service. Many providers require a fast turn around. The faster you are, the more value you'll add and the more you'll get hired. Keep this in mind if you need more flexibility and control over your hours. Medical transcription entails working long hours, and it can be challenging. The willingness to work hard and fast is key to being profitable. To find a contract opportunity, research national transcription services online. You can also network with doctors and hospital personnel.
You can work at home as a medical transcriptionist, but you should never pay to join any "business opportunities". While you can earn a decent living eventually, plan for slow and steady growth as you work to improve your typing for dictation.
____________________________
Daphne Mallory, Esq. is the co-owner of Mallory Writing Services and has written more than 100 articles helping home based business owners and entrepreneurs start and market their business. You can learn more about her here.
http://www.wahm.com/articles/medical-transcription-explained.html
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You can land a medical transcription job as a contractor. The primary duty is to transcribe what a doctor, or other health professional, dictates while giving medical care. Doctors and hospitals need to bill your health insurance (unless you're paying cash) to receive payment for the care you receive. Your health insurance company often requires reports, letters, and other written documents from the doctor detailing the care you received before they'll pay. Doctors don't have the time to transcribe those details. That's where a medical transcriptionist comes in. While some hospitals and doctors will hire an employee to do this, the majority of health care providers will outsource it to a medical transcriptionist. Other duties include identifying discrepancies in medical reports and amending patients' records.
The field is expanding as the aging population continues to grow and require more treatment. This results in the need for more transcriptionists to help with the paperwork required by health insurance companies and government programs.
Medical Transcription Certification
You don't need formal training for medical transcription, but having a certificate makes you competitive. Doctors sometimes prefer to hire those who have completed a certification program beyond high school. You can get certified at your local community college or through a distance-learning program. It usually takes 1 year to complete a course and become certified. The course will cover medical terminology, grammar, punctuation, etc. If you already have experience in the medical field, you can just take a refresher course and shorten the time it takes to get certified.You can become a Registered Medical Transcriptionist (RMT) or a Certified Medical Transcriptionist (CMT). The issue of certification must be considered carefully because although some doctors prefer it, others will gladly outsource work to a non-certified transcriptionist overseas. As a result, you may have to work for low pay, and therefore paying for a certification course may not be worth the time and money.
Medical Transcription at Home
Digital dictation technology makes it possible for you to work from home as a medical transcriptionist. It allows dictations to be sent over emails. If they still use analog dictation, then you'll receive it by mail or courier service. Many providers require a fast turn around. The faster you are, the more value you'll add and the more you'll get hired. Keep this in mind if you need more flexibility and control over your hours. Medical transcription entails working long hours, and it can be challenging. The willingness to work hard and fast is key to being profitable. To find a contract opportunity, research national transcription services online. You can also network with doctors and hospital personnel.You can work at home as a medical transcriptionist, but you should never pay to join any "business opportunities". While you can earn a decent living eventually, plan for slow and steady growth as you work to improve your typing for dictation.
____________________________
Daphne Mallory, Esq. is the co-owner of Mallory Writing Services and has written more than 100 articles helping home based business owners and entrepreneurs start and market their business. You can learn more about her here.
http://www.wahm.com/articles/medical-transcription-explained.html
Contact Me
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Work at Home Jobs in Healthcare
If you are planning to work from home, then consider jobs in healthcare. Working from home appeals to all the moms, as it allows you to decide your work hours, be home with your children and enjoy family life. One of the most popular industries for work-at-home moms is healthcare.
Healthcare Jobs
Some of the work-at-home jobs in healthcare sector are:
Telephone Triage Nurse
Healthcare Writer
Medical Transcription
Healthcare Trainer
Medical Coder
Telephone Triage Nurse
Traditionally, the nursing profession means working long hours on your feet all day. As a telephone nurse triage, you have the opportunity to guide a patient over the phone and help the patient's family to address the medical issue.
Health insurance companies are also using part-time nurses for telecommuting positions. Occasionally, you might need to visit a patient at their home, but most of the interaction is done via telephone.
Healthcare Writer
If you have experience with both healthcare and writing, then you can try healthcare writing. Depending on your experience, the topics could include pregnancy, infants, toddlers, preschoolers, teens, young adults, and general health topics.
Medical Transcription
Medical transcription requires you to transcribe medical records which many include patient history, physical reports, clinic notes, operative reports, discharge summaries, psychiatric evaluations and lab reports. These are usually dictated by doctors and other medical professionals.
There is a level of knowledge and experience needed to be a medical transcriptionist, as you will need to be able to decipher the medical language used on the tapes.
Healthcare Trainer
As a healthcare trainer (or coach) you can teach people about healthy eating habits and the importance of physical activity.
Other areas you can specialize in are:
First-Aid
Basic Food Hygiene
Geriatric care
Medical Coder
If you are good with numbers and have an eye for detail then the job of medical coder is for you. As a medical coder you will perform administrative jobs like reviewing, processing, and submitting medical claims to billing offices.
Occasionally, you may have to interact with the physicians or any other medical professional for additional information. You also may need to contact insurance companies to inquire about claims.
Where to Look For Jobs
Internet is the best way to scour the job openings. Just type in the keyword and you can find jobs. Here are a couple of websites to get you started:
Hospital Jobs Online
Nursing Jobs
Other option can be to search the local media, like a region specific healthcare magazine or newspaper. You can also advertise in the magazines of your area, or you can drop a copy of your resume at your nearby health insurance companies.
These are just a few of work-from-home jobs in healthcare sector. If you have a background in the medical field, there are lots of great opportunities for you to work from home.
http://www.wahm.com/articles/work-from-home-jobs-in-healthcare.html?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter&j=4132575
&e=katherine.ashby@careerstep.com&l=7538_HTML&u=68548531&mid=1022654&jb=
0&utm_medium=Email&utm_source=ExactTarget&utm_campaign=
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Healthcare Jobs
Some of the work-at-home jobs in healthcare sector are:
Telephone Triage Nurse
Healthcare Writer
Medical Transcription
Healthcare Trainer
Medical Coder
Telephone Triage Nurse
Traditionally, the nursing profession means working long hours on your feet all day. As a telephone nurse triage, you have the opportunity to guide a patient over the phone and help the patient's family to address the medical issue.
Health insurance companies are also using part-time nurses for telecommuting positions. Occasionally, you might need to visit a patient at their home, but most of the interaction is done via telephone.
Healthcare Writer
If you have experience with both healthcare and writing, then you can try healthcare writing. Depending on your experience, the topics could include pregnancy, infants, toddlers, preschoolers, teens, young adults, and general health topics.
Medical Transcription
Medical transcription requires you to transcribe medical records which many include patient history, physical reports, clinic notes, operative reports, discharge summaries, psychiatric evaluations and lab reports. These are usually dictated by doctors and other medical professionals.
There is a level of knowledge and experience needed to be a medical transcriptionist, as you will need to be able to decipher the medical language used on the tapes.
Healthcare Trainer
As a healthcare trainer (or coach) you can teach people about healthy eating habits and the importance of physical activity.
Other areas you can specialize in are:
First-Aid
Basic Food Hygiene
Geriatric care
Medical Coder
If you are good with numbers and have an eye for detail then the job of medical coder is for you. As a medical coder you will perform administrative jobs like reviewing, processing, and submitting medical claims to billing offices.
Occasionally, you may have to interact with the physicians or any other medical professional for additional information. You also may need to contact insurance companies to inquire about claims.
Where to Look For Jobs
Internet is the best way to scour the job openings. Just type in the keyword and you can find jobs. Here are a couple of websites to get you started:
Hospital Jobs Online
Nursing Jobs
Other option can be to search the local media, like a region specific healthcare magazine or newspaper. You can also advertise in the magazines of your area, or you can drop a copy of your resume at your nearby health insurance companies.
These are just a few of work-from-home jobs in healthcare sector. If you have a background in the medical field, there are lots of great opportunities for you to work from home.
http://www.wahm.com/articles/work-from-home-jobs-in-healthcare.html?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter&j=4132575
&e=katherine.ashby@careerstep.com&l=7538_HTML&u=68548531&mid=1022654&jb=
0&utm_medium=Email&utm_source=ExactTarget&utm_campaign=
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Monday, November 19, 2012
Contact Me
Want to learn more about how you can train for one of these profitable careers? I've taken several online courses for these fields from Career Step, an online school specializing in career-focused education. Fill out the form below if you'd like more information on my experience and the training Career Step offers.
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Choose a medical transcription school offering job placement
We will post part of an excellent piece on medical transcription job placement. We find it very enlightening for those potential students in medical transcription training. A few schools do what Chad suggests; of course, Med-Line and then Career Step, Med Workshops and Meditec as being great examples.
I find it very curious that all medical transcription schools are not actively involved in hand placing students into medical transcription positions after they graduate from their medical transcription course. The industry standard still remains handing graduates a list of medical transcription companies that have agreed at some point to talk to their graduates. The end result continues to be graduates turned away with a statement of “come back when you have 2 to 3 years’ experience.” A few months later the medical transcription school will contact the graduate to see if they have a job in order to fulfill reporting criteria.
This was my experience when I graduated from a medical transcription program. The program was good, and I received the list upon graduation. I called every company on that list only to hear the same “call back when you have the experience.” Fortunately a friend helped me find a job because I was too new to know where to look. About two months after graduating, I was contacted to see if I had a job yet.
It is interesting to me to hear potential students who say that other schools they are considering offers job placement. When I ask them to ensure they are active in placing them versus giving them a list, the response I get back after they make the call is the same…”Not what they expected”.
When a student spends a significant amount of time learning medical transcription from home, they are often left in the position of struggling to find employment without help from their medical transcription school. I have had students contact me from other programs with the comment that it felt like they were more interested in graduating numbers of students than in ensuring these graduates have a viable medical transcription career.
From Chad Sines
Choose a medical transcription school offering job placement
Contact Me
I find it very curious that all medical transcription schools are not actively involved in hand placing students into medical transcription positions after they graduate from their medical transcription course. The industry standard still remains handing graduates a list of medical transcription companies that have agreed at some point to talk to their graduates. The end result continues to be graduates turned away with a statement of “come back when you have 2 to 3 years’ experience.” A few months later the medical transcription school will contact the graduate to see if they have a job in order to fulfill reporting criteria.
This was my experience when I graduated from a medical transcription program. The program was good, and I received the list upon graduation. I called every company on that list only to hear the same “call back when you have the experience.” Fortunately a friend helped me find a job because I was too new to know where to look. About two months after graduating, I was contacted to see if I had a job yet.
It is interesting to me to hear potential students who say that other schools they are considering offers job placement. When I ask them to ensure they are active in placing them versus giving them a list, the response I get back after they make the call is the same…”Not what they expected”.
When a student spends a significant amount of time learning medical transcription from home, they are often left in the position of struggling to find employment without help from their medical transcription school. I have had students contact me from other programs with the comment that it felt like they were more interested in graduating numbers of students than in ensuring these graduates have a viable medical transcription career.
From Chad Sines
Choose a medical transcription school offering job placement
Contact Me
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Exploring Medical Coding and Billing
When you visit your doctor, your medical insurance provider will probably receive a bill for CPT
code “99211.” That code tells the insurer that you had an “office visit.” If you got an x-ray or had
blood taken, those services would also be represented by CPT codes on your bill.
There are over 9,000 CPT (Current Procedural Terminology) codes – one for every type of
health care service provided by health care practitioners or facilities. There are another 13,500
ICD-9 codes for medical diagnoses, plus more codes for medical supplies and for various health
care settings.
Medical coders spend their days sorting through patient charts to assign these codes and
ensure that the health care providers they work for are properly reimbursed for their services.
Coding accurately is not easy – the coder must carefully read the doctor’s and nurse’s notes to
determine exactly what services the patient received.
Like taxpayers who fail to declare all the deductions they’re entitled to, coders often fail to bill for
services performed. By some estimates, inaccurate or incomplete coding costs the average
doctor thousands of dollars a year in lost payments.
Because physicians and hospitals depend on accurate coding to receive proper reimbursement,
the role of the coder is becoming more valued. Coders once learned their work “on the job.”
Now you can train to become a Certified Professional Coder (CPC), a designation that
demonstrates to potential employers a certain level of coding skill and accuracy.
Working Conditions
Medical coders work in every type of health care facility, including doctor’s offices, surgery
centers, hospitals and health care systems. Some coders have their own freelance businesses,
working from home and billing for their services on an hourly basis.
Coding is extraordinarily detail-oriented work. The coder must carefully review the patient’s
chart to learn the diagnosis and itemize every service that was provided. If a service is
overlooked, the provider will not receive payment for it. If the coder chooses the wrong code, the
provider may have to return any excess payment or face legal charges of “overbilling.”
Codes change constantly, so coders must keep abreast of new rules and interpretations. A solid
understanding of medical terminology, including anatomy, is
Academic Requirements
There are no standardized educational requirements to become a medical coder. Many current
coders started their careers as medical assistants, learning how to code simply because their
employer needed someone to do it.
Concerns about billing accuracy, particularly for Medicare patients, has turned the spotlight on
the coding function. Doctors have been accused of overcharging Medicare because they
submitted bills with the wrong codes.
Becoming a Certified Professional Coder designation tells potential employers that you
understand coding rules and have demonstrated a high level of accuracy in translating patient
charts into correctly coded insurance bills.
Training in coding skills is available at many community colleges and through online learning
centers. Most training programs can be completed in less than 18-24 months. Search for
schools that provide training for this career.
To become a Certified Professional Coder (CPC), you must pass an examination administered
by the American Academy of Professional Coders. Coders with less than two years’ experience
receive a CPC-A (apprentice) designation until their experience is complete. Different
examinations test your knowledge of coding for physician offices, outpatient facilities, or payers.
Annual recertification through continuing education is required to maintain certified status.
Because coding is based on the nature of the medical services provided, certification is
becoming available for specific medical specialties, including evaluation and management,
general surgery, and obstetrics and gynecology.
Outlook & Salary Range
Coders earn an average of $30,000 to $40,000 per year. Coders with specialty credentials can
earn as much as $85,000 a year.
According to the American Association of Professional Coders (AAPC), certified coders earn an
average 17% higher salary than non-certified coders. Many employers now require certification
for newly hired coders.
Reprinted courtesy of ExploreHealthCareers.org, funded in part by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation of Princeton, NJ, and
administered by the American Dental Education Association, 1400 K Street, NW, Suite 1100, Washington, DC 20005. www.adea.org, 202-
289-7201.
Contact Me
Monday, November 12, 2012
Health-care training may be a good career investment
By Randy Woods
NWjobs
If there's any certainty about searching for a job in today's market, it's that long-range predictions will always be unreliable. But as we mark not only 2012's halfway point but also our nation's 236th birthday this week, it seems a fitting moment to look ahead to the possible effects that Thursday's landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision on the Patient Protection and Affordability Care Act (aka "Obamacare") could have, good or bad, for job creation in the Puget Sound region.
Cacophonous political debate is still raging online about the efficacy of the law, so I'll refrain from making guesses about how many actual jobs may be added or lost by the time federal law takes effect in 2014; there are just too many unknown variables to consider. However, one forward-looking observation that seems like a safe bet is that job seekers who invest now in technical training for health-care jobs could reap significant career payoffs over the next few years -- regardless of what happens in the federal Legislature with Obamacare.
According to a report released in June by the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce, health-care providers across the United States will need 5.6 million more trained workers between 2010 and 2020 to handle the increased workload as the population ages. This demand, the study found, is expected to grow even if Obamacare is eventually defeated or watered down in future legislative action.
The average growth of health-care jobs, the study said, is predicted to be twice as high as the growth rate for all other jobs in every state except for Maine, Pennsylvania, North Dakota and West Virginia. In Washington state, health-care and social assistance positions, which currently represent 10 percent of state employment, will grow by 29 percent from 2010 to 2020, with nearly 112,000 new job openings. In comparison, all other jobs in the state are predicted to grow by 16 percent over the same period.
The Georgetown study was notable for examining the amount of education and training that will be needed for the estimated job influx. Nationally, more than 80 percent of the 5.6 million expected new health-care jobs identified in the report will require post-secondary education.
In Washington state, the largest segment of the projected new jobs (34 percent) will be in health-care support positions (massage therapists, nursing aides, occupational therapy assistants, etc.), most of which only require a high school or two-year associates degree. However, Washington is also ranked in the study as having the fourth-highest expected concentration of job openings that will require some kind of post-secondary training, such as nurses (31 percent growth), allied health workers* (26 percent) and physicians (10 percent).
Also, should Obamacare be fully deployed in its current form by 2014, Gov. Gregoire said that, under the Washington State Health Care Authority, about 800,000 state residents who currently go without adequate health-care coverage will be able to afford the new individual mandates by taking part in the Health Benefit Exchange program. Though the details are still a bit fuzzy, new health-care administrative jobs are expected to become available statewide as this bureaucracy is set up to process the surge in the number of new people who will be receiving health insurance.
We are only at the tip of the iceberg with the Obamacare deployment. The nation, as well as our state, must answer countless new questions about how the plan for near-universal coverage will be rolled out over the next two years. But whether or not the law will survive its epic challenges, Obamacare has crystallized the issue of health-care reform and made it one of the most important engines of economic change for the state's workforce.
So for many local job seekers who are looking for careers that will give them a measure of long-term stability, training programs in high-demand fields -- such as nursing, occupational or physical therapy, health-practitioner technology, laboratory medicine, diagnostic technology and medical records administration -- will likely put them in the best position to take advantage of the rising tide of new health-care jobs that will follow.
Randy Woods writes about job-search tools, networking techniques and other tips to help you land your dream job.
* Medical Transcription, Medical Coding and Billing, Pharmacy Tech and Medical Administrative Assistant all fall under the allied heath field.
Contact Me
NWjobs
If there's any certainty about searching for a job in today's market, it's that long-range predictions will always be unreliable. But as we mark not only 2012's halfway point but also our nation's 236th birthday this week, it seems a fitting moment to look ahead to the possible effects that Thursday's landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision on the Patient Protection and Affordability Care Act (aka "Obamacare") could have, good or bad, for job creation in the Puget Sound region.
Cacophonous political debate is still raging online about the efficacy of the law, so I'll refrain from making guesses about how many actual jobs may be added or lost by the time federal law takes effect in 2014; there are just too many unknown variables to consider. However, one forward-looking observation that seems like a safe bet is that job seekers who invest now in technical training for health-care jobs could reap significant career payoffs over the next few years -- regardless of what happens in the federal Legislature with Obamacare.
According to a report released in June by the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce, health-care providers across the United States will need 5.6 million more trained workers between 2010 and 2020 to handle the increased workload as the population ages. This demand, the study found, is expected to grow even if Obamacare is eventually defeated or watered down in future legislative action.
The average growth of health-care jobs, the study said, is predicted to be twice as high as the growth rate for all other jobs in every state except for Maine, Pennsylvania, North Dakota and West Virginia. In Washington state, health-care and social assistance positions, which currently represent 10 percent of state employment, will grow by 29 percent from 2010 to 2020, with nearly 112,000 new job openings. In comparison, all other jobs in the state are predicted to grow by 16 percent over the same period.
The Georgetown study was notable for examining the amount of education and training that will be needed for the estimated job influx. Nationally, more than 80 percent of the 5.6 million expected new health-care jobs identified in the report will require post-secondary education.
In Washington state, the largest segment of the projected new jobs (34 percent) will be in health-care support positions (massage therapists, nursing aides, occupational therapy assistants, etc.), most of which only require a high school or two-year associates degree. However, Washington is also ranked in the study as having the fourth-highest expected concentration of job openings that will require some kind of post-secondary training, such as nurses (31 percent growth), allied health workers* (26 percent) and physicians (10 percent).
Also, should Obamacare be fully deployed in its current form by 2014, Gov. Gregoire said that, under the Washington State Health Care Authority, about 800,000 state residents who currently go without adequate health-care coverage will be able to afford the new individual mandates by taking part in the Health Benefit Exchange program. Though the details are still a bit fuzzy, new health-care administrative jobs are expected to become available statewide as this bureaucracy is set up to process the surge in the number of new people who will be receiving health insurance.
We are only at the tip of the iceberg with the Obamacare deployment. The nation, as well as our state, must answer countless new questions about how the plan for near-universal coverage will be rolled out over the next two years. But whether or not the law will survive its epic challenges, Obamacare has crystallized the issue of health-care reform and made it one of the most important engines of economic change for the state's workforce.
So for many local job seekers who are looking for careers that will give them a measure of long-term stability, training programs in high-demand fields -- such as nursing, occupational or physical therapy, health-practitioner technology, laboratory medicine, diagnostic technology and medical records administration -- will likely put them in the best position to take advantage of the rising tide of new health-care jobs that will follow.
Randy Woods writes about job-search tools, networking techniques and other tips to help you land your dream job.
* Medical Transcription, Medical Coding and Billing, Pharmacy Tech and Medical Administrative Assistant all fall under the allied heath field.
Contact Me
Friday, November 9, 2012
10 Health Care Jobs Most Impacted by Obamacare
Much has been said about the jobs impact of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (commonly known as Obamacare), especially those in small businesses, but there hasn’t been a lot of focus on the health care industry itself. How will health care industry workers be affected by the Affordable Care Act? For better or for worse, these are the jobs that we expect to be affected the most by Obamacare.
Medical records and billing:
Health care support industries, especially medical records and billing companies, stand to greatly benefit from Obamacare. As potentially 30 million new patients will need health care services, they’ll need someone to keep track of all their medical records and billing. In fact, the American Recovery and Reinvestment act is commonly known as “the stimulus bill” in this industry. It’s already resulted in a $19 billion push to electric medical records, a push that is set to increase and demand more professionals in this field.
Health care technology:
IT services for health care is already a hot industry, and it’s going to get hotter as the health care law demands improvements in technology from hospitals, doctors, and pharmaceutical companies. High tech health care startups are focusing on meeting these needs, with startups developing tools that allow patients to find doctors with ratings, as well as tools that help health care providers keep up with demand and offer a more consumer-focused experience.
Medical devices:
Medical device manufacturers have been in turmoil for a few years already due to market dynamics, and the Obamacare ruling is likely to shake things up a bit more. On the upside, Obamacare is likely to bring in millions of new customers, adding demand for more workers and security for existing ones. But it remains to be seen whether or not the industry can afford those workers as it responds to a 2.3% medical device tax that will cut into profits. Gerard Anderson, professor of health policy and management at Johns Hopkins University believes that the industry will not be able to sustain the jobs, noting, “medical device companies will hire fewer people.” Surgeons may even begin to choose less expensive medical device models from overseas manufacturers due to a change in reimbursement models.
Physicians:
Millions of Americans who are now living without health insurance will have new health plans under the ACA, and with those health plans, are likely to seek out the services of primary care physicians. That means doctors, and especially primary care physicians, will see an increased demand for work. At the same time, doctors will potentially see a cut in insurance payments. This could mean that doctors will be expected to see more patients, but not receive as much money per patient.
Medical support staff:
As millions of additional Americans begin to demand service for their health care, it’s clear that more workers will be needed to meet this demand. But which workers will see the most immediate impact? While it takes years to train physicians and nurse practitioners, support staff can be fully trained in a matter of months. Assistants, technicians, and other medium-skill medical jobs will be plentiful.
Skilled medical workers:
Another group that will benefit from the increased demand (and shortage) of physicians is what some people call “physician extenders,” workers that do a lot of the work of physicians, but do not have M.D. behind their name. These include physicians’ assistants, nurse practitioners, and care managers, allowing physicians to see more patients and keep up with demand.
Urgent care:
Yet another fallout of the coming physician shortage is the need for more urgent care professionals. Patients who can’t wait to see a doctor are likely to turn to urgent care centers. We will see an increase in physicians creating urgent care facilities, and medical professionals with a background in urgent or emergency care will see an increased demand.
Insurance agents:
Medical insurance agents are concerned about job security under Obamacare, and with good cause: the insurance industry is getting squeezed by the ruling. Under the act, individual and small group market insurers must spend at least 80 cents of every dollar in premiums collected on health care. In the large group market, it jumps to 85 cents. Insurance agent commissions are not defined as a medical expense, and insurance companies may find it difficult to find money for commissions in their 15 to 20 cents outside of medical expenses. Additionally, the law requires that insurance products must be displayed in an easy-to-understand, easy-to-compare format, reducing the need for insurance agents that can help make sense of it all.
Insurance employees:
It’s not just insurance agents feeling the crunch; all health insurance employees are likely to feel an impact. With 20% or less left for payroll and administration, just about everyone working for an insurance company has a target on their back. Additionally, some companies are choosing to get out of the individual major medical insurance business as a result of the ACA, leading to job cuts in those departments. Last October, American Republic Insurance announced a move out of the individual insurance business, eliminating 110 jobs.
Pharmaceutical workers:
With lots of new customers, pharmaceutical companies will be working overtime to keep up with demand, and likely hiring new workers. But at the same time, cost changes may put pressures on drug companies that lead to job cuts. Industry experts like Holly Strom, former president of the California State Board of Pharmacy, believe that these changes are advantageous only to Big Pharma. Strom believes “only large players would be the ones capable of doing big business.” So workers with larger pharmaceutical companies are likely to do well, while workers with smaller drug companies may be in trouble.
http://www.medicalbillingandcoding.org/blog/10-health-care-jobs-most-impacted-by-obamacare/
Contact Me
Medical records and billing:
Health care support industries, especially medical records and billing companies, stand to greatly benefit from Obamacare. As potentially 30 million new patients will need health care services, they’ll need someone to keep track of all their medical records and billing. In fact, the American Recovery and Reinvestment act is commonly known as “the stimulus bill” in this industry. It’s already resulted in a $19 billion push to electric medical records, a push that is set to increase and demand more professionals in this field.
Health care technology:
IT services for health care is already a hot industry, and it’s going to get hotter as the health care law demands improvements in technology from hospitals, doctors, and pharmaceutical companies. High tech health care startups are focusing on meeting these needs, with startups developing tools that allow patients to find doctors with ratings, as well as tools that help health care providers keep up with demand and offer a more consumer-focused experience.
Medical devices:
Medical device manufacturers have been in turmoil for a few years already due to market dynamics, and the Obamacare ruling is likely to shake things up a bit more. On the upside, Obamacare is likely to bring in millions of new customers, adding demand for more workers and security for existing ones. But it remains to be seen whether or not the industry can afford those workers as it responds to a 2.3% medical device tax that will cut into profits. Gerard Anderson, professor of health policy and management at Johns Hopkins University believes that the industry will not be able to sustain the jobs, noting, “medical device companies will hire fewer people.” Surgeons may even begin to choose less expensive medical device models from overseas manufacturers due to a change in reimbursement models.
Physicians:
Millions of Americans who are now living without health insurance will have new health plans under the ACA, and with those health plans, are likely to seek out the services of primary care physicians. That means doctors, and especially primary care physicians, will see an increased demand for work. At the same time, doctors will potentially see a cut in insurance payments. This could mean that doctors will be expected to see more patients, but not receive as much money per patient.
Medical support staff:
As millions of additional Americans begin to demand service for their health care, it’s clear that more workers will be needed to meet this demand. But which workers will see the most immediate impact? While it takes years to train physicians and nurse practitioners, support staff can be fully trained in a matter of months. Assistants, technicians, and other medium-skill medical jobs will be plentiful.
Skilled medical workers:
Another group that will benefit from the increased demand (and shortage) of physicians is what some people call “physician extenders,” workers that do a lot of the work of physicians, but do not have M.D. behind their name. These include physicians’ assistants, nurse practitioners, and care managers, allowing physicians to see more patients and keep up with demand.
Urgent care:
Yet another fallout of the coming physician shortage is the need for more urgent care professionals. Patients who can’t wait to see a doctor are likely to turn to urgent care centers. We will see an increase in physicians creating urgent care facilities, and medical professionals with a background in urgent or emergency care will see an increased demand.
Insurance agents:
Medical insurance agents are concerned about job security under Obamacare, and with good cause: the insurance industry is getting squeezed by the ruling. Under the act, individual and small group market insurers must spend at least 80 cents of every dollar in premiums collected on health care. In the large group market, it jumps to 85 cents. Insurance agent commissions are not defined as a medical expense, and insurance companies may find it difficult to find money for commissions in their 15 to 20 cents outside of medical expenses. Additionally, the law requires that insurance products must be displayed in an easy-to-understand, easy-to-compare format, reducing the need for insurance agents that can help make sense of it all.
Insurance employees:
It’s not just insurance agents feeling the crunch; all health insurance employees are likely to feel an impact. With 20% or less left for payroll and administration, just about everyone working for an insurance company has a target on their back. Additionally, some companies are choosing to get out of the individual major medical insurance business as a result of the ACA, leading to job cuts in those departments. Last October, American Republic Insurance announced a move out of the individual insurance business, eliminating 110 jobs.
Pharmaceutical workers:
With lots of new customers, pharmaceutical companies will be working overtime to keep up with demand, and likely hiring new workers. But at the same time, cost changes may put pressures on drug companies that lead to job cuts. Industry experts like Holly Strom, former president of the California State Board of Pharmacy, believe that these changes are advantageous only to Big Pharma. Strom believes “only large players would be the ones capable of doing big business.” So workers with larger pharmaceutical companies are likely to do well, while workers with smaller drug companies may be in trouble.
http://www.medicalbillingandcoding.org/blog/10-health-care-jobs-most-impacted-by-obamacare/
Contact Me
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Questions
Do you have any questions about Medical Transcription? Medical Coding and Billing?
Working from home? Let me know, I would be happy to help you!
You can email me at katherine.ashby@careerstep.com
Contact Me
Working from home? Let me know, I would be happy to help you!
You can email me at katherine.ashby@careerstep.com
Contact Me
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
MyCAA Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts
Unofficially referred to as Spouse Tuition Assistance, the Department of Defense recently expanded Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts (MyCAA) program can provide up to $4,000 of Financial Assistance for military spouses.
MyCAA Eligibility
Spouses of active duty service members in pay grades E1-E5, W1-W2, and O1-O2, as well as the spouses of activated Guard and Reserve members within those ranks. Spouses of Guard and Reserve members must be able to start and complete their courses while their sponsor is on Title 10 orders.
Note: The MyCAA program does not include Coast Guard spouses.
Click here to download the MyCAA FAQ booklet from Military OneSource. (pdf)
http://www.military.com/education/money-for-school/military-spouse-career-advancement-accounts-financial-aid.html
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Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Work-at-Home Scams
Job One: Do Not Take the Bait Everyone’s seen them—seductive work-at-home opportunities hyped in flyers tacked to telephone poles, in newspaper classifieds, in your e-mail, and all over the web, promising you hundreds or thousands of dollars a week for typing, stuffing envelopes, processing medical billing, etc. And it’s just a phone call or mouse click away…
Might be tempting during these uncertain economic times, but beware of any offers that promise easy money for minimum effort—many are scams that fill the coffers of criminals.
Here are a few of the most common work-at-home scams.
Advance-fee: Starting a home-based business is easy! Just invest a few hundred dollars in inventory, set-up, and training materials, they say. Of course, if and when the materials do come, they are totally worthless…and you’re stuck with the bill.
Counterfeit check-facilitated "mystery shopper:" You’re sent a hefty check and asked to deposit it into your bank account, then withdraw funds to shop and check out the service of local stores and wire transfer companies. You keep a small amount of the money for your “work,” but then, as instructed, mail or wire the rest to your “employer.” Sound good? One problem: the initial check was phony, and by the time your bank notifies you, your money is long gone and you’re on the hook for the counterfeit check.
Pyramid schemes: You’re hired as a “distributor” and shell out big bucks for promotional materials and product inventories with little value (like get-rich quick pamphlets). You’re promised money for recruiting more distributors, so you talk friends and family into participating. The scheme grows exponentially but then falls apart—the only ones who make a profit are the criminals who started it.
Unknowing involvement in criminal activity: Criminals—often located overseas—sometimes use unwitting victims to advance their operations, steal and launder money, and maintain anonymity. For example, they may “hire" you as a U.S.-based agent to receive and re-ship checks, merchandise, and solicitations to other potential victims…without you realizing it’s all a ruse that leaves no trail back to the crooks.
More Scam Stories
- Spear Phishing
- Car Cloning
- Illegal Online Pharmacies
Add identity theft to the mix. As if these schemes aren’t bad enough, many also lead to identity theft. During the application process, you’re often asked to provide personal information that can be used to steal from your bank account or establish new credit cards in your name.
On the job. A host of law enforcement and regulatory agencies, including the FBI, investigate these schemes and track down those responsible. But the most effective weapon against these fraudsters is you not falling for the scams in the first place.
A few tips:
Contact the Better Business Bureau to determine the legitimacy of the company.
Be suspicious when money is required up front for instructions or products.
Don’t provide personal information when first interacting with your prospective employer.
Do your own research into legitimate work-at-home opportunities, using the “Work-at-Home Sourcebook” and other resources that may be available at your local library.
Ask lots of questions of potential employers—legitimate companies will have answers for you!
http://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/2009/april/workathome_041709
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Monday, November 5, 2012
The Future of Medical Transcription
If you have been a part of the medical transcription industry for a reasonable amount of time, you must have heard numerous debates on the future of this profession.
There are those who believe that medical transcription is a dying industry. As digitization takes over our lives, can anyone be blamed for thinking this way? However, before you jump the gun and give medical transcription as a career option the cold shoulder, here's some food for thought:
• The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects good job options for certified medical transcriptionists over the next few years.
• The employment of medical transcriptionists (MTs) is expected to grow by 11 percent through 2018.1
While the figure is not something that will make you jump for joy, it does reflect that the demand for MTs is not drying up.
The biggest reason, according to the Department of Labor, for this continued demand for health documentation professionals is the growth in the number of Baby Boomers reaching retirement age. As more and more people in the country start turning grey, there will be significant increase in the healthcare procedures related to old age that require proper documentation.
So, the bottom line here is that medical transcription as an industry is not going anywhere, at least not in a hurry and not in the foreseeable future.
Challenges to Medical Transcription
That was the good news and now for some bad news. The truth of the matter is that medical transcription, as it stands today, does face some challenges and serious ones at that.
The entire healthcare industry is moving towards the Electronic Medical Records (EMR) environment. There is a school of thought that believes that with more and more healthcare businesses adopting this technology, the need for medical transcriptionist is going to nosedive.
With all due respect to the doomsayers, there was a similar hue and cry when the speech recognition software was first introduced. However, what this medical transcription software did was create a demand for medical transcription editors.
Medical Transcription Editing
Everyone knows that the speech recognition software is far from perfect and most doctors can't be asked to put in the effort required to train it or the time needed to correct the flaws in the final product. The job, therefore, of reviewing and editing these documents that have a lot to be desired passes into the hands of MTs with advanced transcription skills that include editing and proof reading.
Similarly, even though the EMR system outwardly threatens to decrease the demand for medical transcriptionist, the optimists amongst us believe that the percentage of doctors who make a full transition to the EMR systems will be small, at least to begin with. They will still require medical transcriptionists to continue to serve as their eyes and ears and interface with the EMR system on their behalf.
So, what it may actually boil down to is MTs having to embrace the changing technology and add skills such as medical transcription editing that make them more efficient and productive. There is also hope that the EMR system may create support roles that flow naturally into the laps of medical transcriptionists who learn to keep pace with changing times.
Now it's up to you which side of the fence you want to sit on. The side from where the future of the medical transcription industry seems bleak at best or the side where you see hurdles, but also the means to get past them!
Sources:
1. bls.gov/oco/ocos271.htm#outlook
There are those who believe that medical transcription is a dying industry. As digitization takes over our lives, can anyone be blamed for thinking this way? However, before you jump the gun and give medical transcription as a career option the cold shoulder, here's some food for thought:
• The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects good job options for certified medical transcriptionists over the next few years.
• The employment of medical transcriptionists (MTs) is expected to grow by 11 percent through 2018.1
While the figure is not something that will make you jump for joy, it does reflect that the demand for MTs is not drying up.
The biggest reason, according to the Department of Labor, for this continued demand for health documentation professionals is the growth in the number of Baby Boomers reaching retirement age. As more and more people in the country start turning grey, there will be significant increase in the healthcare procedures related to old age that require proper documentation.
So, the bottom line here is that medical transcription as an industry is not going anywhere, at least not in a hurry and not in the foreseeable future.
Challenges to Medical Transcription
That was the good news and now for some bad news. The truth of the matter is that medical transcription, as it stands today, does face some challenges and serious ones at that.
The entire healthcare industry is moving towards the Electronic Medical Records (EMR) environment. There is a school of thought that believes that with more and more healthcare businesses adopting this technology, the need for medical transcriptionist is going to nosedive.
With all due respect to the doomsayers, there was a similar hue and cry when the speech recognition software was first introduced. However, what this medical transcription software did was create a demand for medical transcription editors.
Medical Transcription Editing
Everyone knows that the speech recognition software is far from perfect and most doctors can't be asked to put in the effort required to train it or the time needed to correct the flaws in the final product. The job, therefore, of reviewing and editing these documents that have a lot to be desired passes into the hands of MTs with advanced transcription skills that include editing and proof reading.
Similarly, even though the EMR system outwardly threatens to decrease the demand for medical transcriptionist, the optimists amongst us believe that the percentage of doctors who make a full transition to the EMR systems will be small, at least to begin with. They will still require medical transcriptionists to continue to serve as their eyes and ears and interface with the EMR system on their behalf.
So, what it may actually boil down to is MTs having to embrace the changing technology and add skills such as medical transcription editing that make them more efficient and productive. There is also hope that the EMR system may create support roles that flow naturally into the laps of medical transcriptionists who learn to keep pace with changing times.
Now it's up to you which side of the fence you want to sit on. The side from where the future of the medical transcription industry seems bleak at best or the side where you see hurdles, but also the means to get past them!
Sources:
1. bls.gov/oco/ocos271.htm#outlook
Nancy is a 35-year old stay at home mom of two. She worked as a medical assistant for five years before taking a break to be with her children. Her experience as a medical assistant gave her valuable insights in to the medical transcription industry, which she likes to share with others through her writing. Medical transcription training often finds mention in her writings. Being an SAHM, Nancy is a huge exponent of online vocational training programs that provide women like her the power to be their own boss.
Her other interests include gardening and baking. She stays with her husband and two daughters.
Friday, November 2, 2012
The Best-Paying Work-At-Home Jobs
Across age groups and job categories, demand is growing for good-paying work that can be done right from home. Nervous about falling 401ks, boomers hope to continue earning income without the hours or stress of office life. Gen Xers, often caring for elderly parents or young children, are thirsty for flexibility. And younger cohorts are attracted to “free agency” more than ever.“There’s less willingness today to be a cube-dweller or lifetime commuter,” says Michael Haaren, co-director of RatRaceRebellion.com and co-author of Work at Home Now. “Being able to work from home makes life easier and appeals to the latent entrepreneur.
While there may be a tradeoff to working at home—a salary haircut and less advancement potential—a surprising amount and variation of well-paying professional jobs have a two-second commute. From the health, tech and creative industries, good at-home jobs are springing up everywhere.
According to Haaren, the work-from-home sector reflects what’s going on in the brick-and-mortar economy. Today, that means an explosion of new and diverse health-care jobs. Top-paid among them are home-based physicians and radiologists, now being hired by companies like Imaging On Call and Permedion to review and evaluate patient cases. Haaren suspects they earn near the $1,975 median weekly income of physicians, as reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), making it a six-figure job.
What’s more, the burgeoning field of “telehealth” provides quality wages and sometimes full benefits or bonuses. Companies like MedQuist are beginning to hire more at-home support staff, like medical transcriptionists. Haaren estimates they earn between $30,000 and $50,000 a year and says they are eligible for a signing bonus. Similarly, registered nurses working at home earn near the $1,055-per-week industry median to do telephone triage, advising patients about health concerns over the phone.
IT was one of the first fields to latch onto the anywhere mentality, Haaren says, likely due to its young workforce and penchant for abstraction. In 2008, completely virtual IT company MySQL was acquired for $1 billion by what’s now Oracle. Its at-home staff means reduced building costs and a bigger talent pool. Plus, it’s a boon for the employees. The BLS reports that computer software engineers earn a median of $1,549 each week and $85,000 a year. Computer scientists, programmers and systems administers all earn about $1,200 per week.
Other lucrative at-home knowledge jobs include public relations specialists, graphic designers, writers and authors, and postsecondary teachers. According to the book Make Money Teaching Online by Danielle Babb and Jim Mirabella, if online adjunct professors work hard enough, they can earn six-figure salaries.
Haaren warns that some older fields, like law and high finance, haven’t caught up to the flexibility demands of the new workforce but show signs of cracking. For example, JPMorgan Chase sometimes recruits regional home-based mortgage executives. While these positions are limited, financial managers earn a median of $1,227 per week. On the lower end of the spectrum, earning a median of $1,061 each week, home-based tax preparers are being hired by companies like Intuit.
Studies show that at-home workers are willing to earn up to 30% less and experience heightened productivity, says Haaren. When added to the savings on real estate costs, “It’s a good deal for both.”
http://www.forbes.com/sites/jennagoudreau/2011/09/27/the-best-paying-work-at-home-jobs/
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Thursday, November 1, 2012
10 best (and real) work-at-home jobs
Virtual assistant.
Medical transcriptionist.
Translator.
Web developer/designer.
Call center representative.
Tech support specialist.
Travel agent.
Teacher.
Writer/editor.
Franchise owner.
Read more: 10 best (and real) work-at-home jobs http://www.bankrate.com/finance/personal-finance/10-best-and-real-work-at-home-jobs-1.aspx#ixzz2B0mHIDOf
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Medical Transcription Canada: A Thriving Industry
Medical transcription Canada is definitely becoming a thriving industry and it’s obvious to see because of the huge, recent drop in unemployment. According to Statistics Canada, the unemployment rate has fallen approximately .3% over the last couple of months. There is a definite possibility that the amount of home jobs in transcriptionist work have contributed to this in a positive way.
More companies are laying off, and more people are finding work at home. It is evident that medical transcription jobs make up for the greater part of the work-at-home job market. For that very reason, the phrase, “medical transcription Canada” is one that is often being used when Canadians search for employment for transcription jobs.
Quite the same as all other jobs, transcription work can easily be found online through various transcription companies. A couple of Canadian companies that offer a plentiful amount of work are Precision Transcription Services, Preferred Medical Professionals Inc., 247transcriptionca., and RPJ Atlantic Technologies Canada.
Most transcriptionist companies require experience, so training may be necessary beforehand. Fortunately, there are a good many transcriptionist programs for those residing in Canada as well. You can find all of the information you need on starting your new career in medical transcription by using the internet as your reference. Considering the fact that most medical transcriptionist work is done at home from the computer, finding information shouldn’t be difficult.
A huge benefit for Canadians in reference to transcription jobs is that everyone has access to healthcare. Obviously, this means that more people are apt to go to the doctor when they are sick, resulting in more doctor’s visits and a higher need for transcribed medical reports.
Citizens residing in Canada are a lot better off than most people elsewhere when it comes to at-home employment. While there may be an overall need for medical transcriptionists almost everywhere worldwide, that need is simply a bit higher in Canada, which could very well cause transcription jobs to be one of the country’s leading industries.
People from all over the world have experienced a huge decrease in employment. Some countries are doing better than others. The one thing that can be said for sure is that there are no worries when working from home in transcription because if one company goes down, there is always another one on the list needing help. In order for the entire medical transcription Canada industry to go down, there would need to be a huge decrease in doctor’s visits – something that undoubtedly will never happen anywhere.
Job security is the number one benefit for transcriptionist work in Canada. All of the other benefits including the option to stay at home, not have to pay for daycare costs, set your own hours, and make as money as you want is what helps make medical transcription a true dream job.
Finding the Top Medical Transcription Program That’s Right For You (Canada)
Most medical transcriptionist jobs cannot be obtained unless you first possess a quality education. Probably by now, you have heard quite a bit about medical transcription and how there are plenty of different training programs out there. It is very important that you do not sign up to just any transcription program, because some really are useless.
The main thing you need to be aware of when searching online for a legitimate medical transcription program is that it is accredited by the AHDI, which is not the same as other programs. Most of the time, when checking for accreditation, you check in with chea.org, but in the case of medical transcription programs, you need to check in with AHDI.org.
Finding the right program for you will not be difficult if you know what is available and what to look for. First off, you should be aware of the fact that there are accelerated, self-paced, classroom, online, and regular programs. It is crucial that you sit down and evaluate your current lifestyle to see what it is you need from a medical transcription training program.
If you’re a busy mom, then you’re likely to already have a full-time job, so an online program would probably suit you the best. An important question to ask yourself is how much time you have to complete the program. Most people do their best when on a schedule, and that is why a regular online program is most highly preferred. However, if you can’t find it within yourself to create your own schedule and get your work done on your own, a self-paced program may work out quite well.
If you do well with your transcription program, you should have no problems finding great transcriptionist jobs. It goes without saying that your scores are important. This is something that should be taken very seriously, which is why figuring out how you learn the best is the most crucial part of the process. Someone who works well under pressure would be a great candidate for an accelerated transcription program. Again, these are the things you need to sit down and really think about before choosing.
Once you know what you want from your program, as well as how long you would like for it to take you to complete, and where you would like to study, you will need to find the program. Top training courses are found at ahdionline.org. This is a very detailed and self-explanatory site that has everything laid out for you. There, you will find training programs such as CareerStep, M-Tec, Andrews, and Everett.
Some other places you may prefer to look when searching for a transcription program are Google and work-at-home mom forum websites. Asking questions and getting advice about your particular situation is always helpful and can guide you in the right direction. Another thing you may want to do is call the school you are interested in before deciding to sign up and ask questions just so you know you are doing what is right for you.
Remember that in order to be successful and obtain great transcriptionist jobs, you must have what it takes. And what it takes is nothing more than a high-quality education, which can easily be found with a little bit of research, time, and patience.
http://www.medicaltranscriptionistjobs.net/medical-transcription-program
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