Top Tips for Hiring New Employees for ENT Billing and Coding
One of the most difficult parts of running an ENT practice is finding great employees to help make the whole thing run. It is hard to see a good employee go – especially if that employee worked in the medical billing services department – not just because you are losing a valuable part of the team, but because you know it will be very hard to replace them. There are a lot of people out there who have been trained in medical billing and coding, so that really isn’t the issue. Finding someone who has a background in otolaryngology, who understands the specific needs and requirements of the specialty, that can be a challenge.
One way to make sure that you hire the best person for the job, and not just the first person who comes along looking for a job, is to take your time. Rather than work with a shortage, many practices choose to outsource ENT billing with a trusted and professional organization while they are looking for a new employee to fill those shoes. MD Pro Solutions offers a wide variety of services to otolaryngology practices, including consulting, training for ENT billing and coding, support for medical billing services, plus fast and accurate credentialing for everyone in your office. We also offer services to help you outsource ENT billing, either on a temporary as-needed basis, or as a long-term solution to issues faced by a changing industry.
The rest of this article will focus on tips that you can use to help hire new employees for your medical billing services. You can also count on the support and advice from our team of professional consultants at MD Pro Solutions, when it comes time to hire new ENT billing and coding staff. Just make sure to take your time, don’t rush into anything, and you’ll get it right!
Step One – Learn from Your Mistakes
Well, not mistakes really, but find out why you are losing a valued employee. Are you offering your employees competitive pay and benefits? Was the employee unhappy with working conditions, hours or other issues that might be a problem for someone else? Or did the employee leave due to a personal reason, such as having a baby, moving out of the area or retiring from the industry? Whatever the reason, it is important to make sure that you don’t have an underlying issue in your medical billing services department that needs to be taken care of before you bring in a new staff member.
Step Two – Create a Job Description
Make sure you have a handle on the work that you want the new employee to do so that you are clear when it comes time to post a “help wanted” ad and interview potential candidates. Make sure to outline whether you want them to take care of ENT billing and coding or any other types of services, to ensure that they have the experience you require and the training you need to keep your office running smoothly. Create an attractive ad that will bring in the type of workers that you would like to have working at your practice.
Step Three – Think Outside the Box
When you place an ad for a new employee to work in your medical billing services department, make sure to put your ad in places where people are likely to look. Make sure to include an ad in the local newspaper or other popular publication, but don’t forget online opportunities. Studies show that more people are using websites to search for jobs than print listings, so be sure to include your ad on websites that are popular in your area. Craigslist.com, SnagaJob.com and CareerBuilder.com are just a few to get you started, make sure to do your research and get your listing out there for everyone to see.
Step Four – Create an Interview Checklist
It is hard to keep track of the different potential candidates without taking some notes. Consider creating a checklist that has room for you to make notes about your first impressions of the applicants. Were they dressed appropriately, did they fill out the form correction, did they submit a resume with the application – these are things you will want to take note of as you compare the various applicants. They might not seem as important as training and experience, but when it comes to ENT billing and coding, attention to detail is essential. You do not want someone working in your medical billing services department that doesn’t take time to dot i’s and cross t’s, especially with all of the recent changes in the healthcare industry.
Step Five – Consider Outsourcing
When it comes to your billing department, it is important not to settle when it comes to the people who will be taking care of your ENT billing and coding. Many practices choose to outsource ENT billing, not because they can’t find the right staff to fill the position, but because it is often more cost-effective, efficient and reliable. MD Pro Solutions offers a wide variety of services to otolaryngology practices, including fast and accurate credentialing, ENT billing and coding, training and education, comprehensive support and a whole lot more.
If you are interested in learning more about all of the services available through MD Pro Solutions, give us a call at 508-946-1665. We can help you improve your in-house billing, outsource ENT billing, providing training and support for your staff or provide you with a complete audit that will help you take your practice to the next level. Call today and find out why so many Ear Nose and Throat doctors trust MD Pro Solutions for their professional consulting and support services.