4th Quarter of Healthcare IT

It is the end of the year and I hope that all is well with everyone.

As Healthcare IT Consultants we are all aware of things go during this quarter.  Work is happening right now. Some of you may feel that things are slow right now. But, I know of several consultants that may disagree.

With that said Consultants need make themselves marketable and well rounded. They need to own their skills. If training is your thing then train from different angles. Train the analyst on the proper workflow of the system. Train the administration so that they know what exactly is expected of their employees. Train the Clinicians on proper end user usage. Train and support during post implementations. Offer your expertise Pre, Intra, and Post Implementations.

You can also expand your range to having knowledge on several emrs. There are more emrs than Epic. Some such as Cerner, Nextgen, Allscripts, Meditech, Mckesson, GE, Criterion, eClinicalWorks,  etc. Just to name a few.

It is 4th quarter. What does that mean?
It means attestation time. 2015 Meaningful use deadlines. Preparation for ICD-10. PQRS, GPRO, Hedis, and PCMH. The start of 2015 attestation!!!

Hope that you all are lining up work for the new year for contracts are going out.

I wish you all the best and Happy Holidays!

Versatile in this Industry

What do you know?
Seriously, what do you know about your job?
Do you know how the company got to where it currently is?  Do you know why your company is running the way it is,  as in it's purpose? What is the trend for your industry? What makes it tick?

In my work world it consists of Health care IT different entities. Entities such as Physicians, nurses, administration,  pharmacy, nutrition,  information technology, government, state, local, and at a federal level. These entities make up the industry of Healthcare IT. 

It is a must for me to have knowledge in each area if I am to continue to be successful. Continuation of education on the latest information. For times are changing constantly with the technology and legislation. For myself I strive to be well rounded, while still holding onto the basics. Apply yourself all the way around. Once done right,  it won't have to be redone again. 

Boundaries for/after work, Do you have any?

Boundaries, believe it or not many do not know or respect boundaries.

My personal take on workplace boundaries are quite simple. It keeps everything aligned so that discrepancies can not be formed.

Rules of workplace conduct.
#1.No exchange of social media,unless it's LinkedIn. This is a boundary that many can not understand. Facebook, twitter, and instagram are personal social media were at times one may want to voice a not so friendly work statement or picture. Human Resource of the majority of employments asked that mentioned above social sites be regulated of not including your employment.

#2. Exchange of cellular device only pertaining to the work place. The act of calling or texting one another off peak hours is shunned upon.  Respect of one another and have time allowance set if there is a need to communicate to one another.

#3. The knowledge of one's personal affairs can be messy in the work environment. Knowing to much information and/or allowed such information is a terrible No No. Personal information can and will be used against at work. This is not Law and Order, It will be used against. Performance is always being judged.

#4. Now this where many argue,  but socializing with coworkers on and off of employment hours. Especially for off hours. Granted some coworkers might want to fraternize and have dinner and drinks with one another. I personally am opposed to it.  My work ethics are highly different than others. You can go from dinner - drinks - obscene social media posts - unregulated "communication " hours = Messy! It doesn't look good nor work out well.

Anything can happen. In the Consulting world you have to understand that, "It's a small world after all, it's a small world after all". We all know everyone. Believe it or not. We do and we all talk.  Recruiters are friends with other recruiters at the competitors office.  Same thing goes for the project managers and the leads.  Best believe that they talk just the same way that the consultants do.  They hear the same personal stories about that consultant at the bar and about how that other consultant was unaccounted for on such and such a project.  "It's a small world after all". These conversations are used when being considered for your next employment opportunity.

There is nothing wrong with setting rules and boundaries. It keeps everything aligned, organized for The  better. Keep work separate and it will help balance out the personal lives. 

Power Trip Consultants

Everybody wants to be the boss, but everyone is not the boss.

When working a go live project, or any other project for that matter. Know your work role and stick with it.

Remember to know yourself.

I have seen and heard from others in my network of the horror stories of those on a Power Trip.
Some people get a title and let it go to their head. Want to dictate everyone's movement. Have say so in any and everything. Want to be the designated "timekeeper". Delegate tasks that are not up their avenue.

Don't let that "Epic" get to your head, a few of us jokingly say.

Then there are the buttocks kissers.
You know the ones that go run telling on other consultants. Reporting their every move. Wants to be the center of attention. All eyes on them. Act as if they know it all. Granted, some of them may know something of something, but not really. Let's be honest here. There are those who are trouble-makers. As if they go around attempting to intimidate others.

I believe that people should always be humble and respect one another. Business is business. We are not here to make friends. We are here to work. Boundaries need to be set.

Stay in your own lane.

Saturated Industry

I have been working in Healthcare IT for the past 6 years and counting.  It is sad to say that it is becoming saturated with "consultants" who don't know a thing.

It is one thing to know where to click in an EMR. But, it is even better to know the whys of the click.

Don't just do a contract gig just because the money is good or decent. Because truth be told accepting anything = accepting anyone to do a job.  Clients and companies should want the best of the best to work their implementations. That way it is done correctly the first time. No need to go back over it and retry an attestation. A complete waste of time.
I personally would want the best for buck.

I personally would love to be paid what I truly am worth.

These consultants are taking advantage of the market while lowering the market value for us qualified, knowledgeable consultants.

Your work is a reflection of you. Aim for the best.

Knowledge is power, stay current.

Recruiters recruiting.

What makes a good recruiter???????

1. A recruiters presence.
2. A knowledgeable recruiter, who has actually worked the field.
3. A recruiter who follows up with, regardless of if there are any updates.
4. A recruiter who keeps you in the loop at all times.
5. A recruiter who encourages you to stay current in your field.
6. A recruiter who is not afraid to have his/her consultant's back.
7. A recruiter who will try to get you thee best offer.
8. A recruiter who will match up your skill set to a desired job and not set you up for failure.
9. A recruiter who will think outside of the box and get you something that will help build you up to success.
10. A recruiter that actually recruits.

Team Leads/Managers/Supervisor

Promotion! !!!!

When working on an implementation of any phase there will be a variety of roles. Numerous of management positions. Tons of leads.

When in a management position your character speaks for itself. You must conduct yourself professionally at all times. Set boundaries and your expectations.

As a lead, you must lead your team to success.

If there are any issues, disputes, disagreements, concerns, or any type of uhh ohhh. It should be handled in the upmost professional manner.

Telephone conversations should be conducted at an even tone where each party converse respectfully.  The same respect is given during meetings/conferences.

Please as managers,  supervisors, and lead let's not let this position get to your head. Stay humble.

Interviews, When was your last interview?

An interview?

This is how things normally work.
1. Person applies for job. / Or the person is contacted for a potential position.
2. An interview where face to face, telephone, or a skype interview.
3. Then whatever the next step might be.

Now a days, companies and clients are taking short cuts and are just picking their consultants based off of resumes or by word of mouth.

With this being said, how effective is this in selecting the right consultant for the job?
I feel that people are straying away from getting to know the person that you are hiring, due to being in a rush to get the EMR implemented.
To ensure a proper implementation you will need the right people to build a great team. With a great team with tons of knowledge to go around, processes will run smoother.

I hope that we can go back to interview days where you had to do a test, mock scenario, or face to face to demonstrate some of your knowledge.

Who is a True Consultant??

So you a consultant, huh.....

What are the requirements on being a consultant?
What makes a consultant a good consultant.
Would you be a considered a consultant do your levels of schooling, or the number of consultant positions that you have held.

To each is it's own.

But, if you are going to be a consultant then be a great one!

The industry is becoming more and more saturated with these so call consultants that are ruining this industry for others consultant. With cause and effect of lower pay, less benefits, shorter contracts, etc.

Now I understand the phrase fake it to make it... But, come on now we are working in an industry where our actions can cause a person their life or a flaw in the best care that they can receive. For this is why we are in this industry, correct...

Consultants need to be an expertise in their specific area with a general knowledge of the overall process on what they are consulting on. If you don't know your area, then I suggest that you study it and breathe it. Set the bar high and maintain that bar at said level or raise it higher.

This will prove what you know and it will show. Because believe me it shows when one does not know much. We consultants, we consult with one another. These recruiters, they consult with one another. They really do, for I consult with them. It's an unending circle of consulting.

Tighten up your knowledge Consultants.
Stay up to date.

Business business in Healthcare IT

Everyone has a boss, or so it seems....

We all report to someone, or so it seems..

There several entrepreneurs and potential entrepreneurs around us. In this Healthcare IT business, there are so many different ways to earn an income, you know Make Money!

It is just for the individual to select which angle works best for them. You may be clinical, IT, management, or any other non-management professional. Aim for what you know, your expertise. And if you don't know it, Learn it!!

Expand your horizon, your knowledge. Learn something new, don't be stuck in the same old mindset. Use that mindset and build upon it.
If you don't like what is being said to you your employment that is coming down from management, then change it. Change your position and situation. Build upon your knowledge and success it out. Try, if you fail try again, duh !

My point being said is that there are a lot more things going on in Healthcare IT, than just "Go-Lives". Analyze the whole implementation process and do a comparison analysis of your current knowledge and said process. Where do you fit in? What do you know, what ya got that you can bring to the table of Healthcare IT?

Work your knowledge. You are, your own investment.

Cleveland Clinic partners with Dell

I found this article interesting. Please read below.

http://www.emrandehr.com/?s=+Cleveland+clinic

Cleveland Clinic, Dell Offer Joint Epic EHR Service
Even when you’re a juggernaut the size of Epic, eventually you’re going to reach the point where your customer base is saturated and you need unique new directions to go. This new deal between Dell and the Cleveland Clinic may do just that for Epic.

This week at HIMSS, the two are announcing an agreement in which the two will offer consulting, installation, configuration and hosting services for Cleveland Clinic’s version of Epic. Under the deal struck between the two parties, customers can choose between a hosted version of the Epic instance and a full install on their site.

Cleveland Clinic execs say that their knowledge of using Epic, which they have for more than three years, will give them special expertise in helping providers adjust to Epic. The Clinic has been selling Epic to providers through its MyPractice Healthcare Solutions business. To date, MyPractice has sold EMRs to more than 400 providers, including physicians, nurse practitioners and midwives within a 50 mile radius of Cleveland.

Working with Dell, the two companies plan to offer the new EMR service nationwide. The Cleveland Clinic will handle the EMR installation for new customers, and Dell provides the technology infrastructure. Epic gets a licensing fee for each of these deals, the customers’ relationship will be with Dell and the Cleveland Clinic.

As Dr. C. Martin Harris, CIO of the Cleveland Clinic, told Modern Healthcare, most medical practices and hospitals have EMRs in place, leaving only a much smaller group of first-time EMR buyers. But, Harris said, that minis still a big number. (And there’s always the practices still looking to switch.)

Turning Dell and the Cleveland Clinic into a sales channel for Epic seems like a pretty smart move. With the help of players who know the smaller physician practice market, it might open up a new opportunity for Epic which it hadn’t much of a shot at before.

Credentialed Trainers, What Happened to You?

Trainers Wanted! Trainers Needed!!

Who remembers the prestige in being a Trainer with the matching pay?

A great trainer knows the application inside and out. They know the flow and why it must flow the way that it flows to match the workflow. For if it is broken, the trainer knows at which functionality that it is broken at. A great trainer can provide scenarios for the end user to grasp the full concept on what is being taught. A great trainer will train their class in an expertise manner. No amateurs.

A good trainer can efficiently answer a question with thorough a thought. A good trainer won't answer the question with a question. Or belittle you as if your question was not of high importance. A good trainer who doesn't know the answer will research it and follow up your question with an answer or the status of the answer.

With that being said,a great trainer should have a great matching pay. Trainers used to make $15-$20 more than the go live support. This however is not the case. Whether the trainer is good, great, off mediocre they pay rate is not matching the title. At times trainers are making less than the g go live support. The real question is why is this happening?

Is it because the market is now saturated? Are the consulting companies taking a bigger cut then what the trainer is seeing? Budget issues, maybe? Or are they just being cheap?

We as trainers should stick together and demand what we are worth. Don't settle for less!

Summer EMR 2014

Hello to all of my EMR Consultants.

Hopefully you all should be "booked up" for the summer going into the fall.
If you are or are not depending on each individual's own life is still ok.
There are constant projects popping up from all different angles. Some consulting
Companies are staffing already while others are just getting ready. Compared to those
Last minute staffers.

The advice that I currently have for you all is to Relax!
This business is forever changing. If you don't have anything lined up
For right now, don't stress it. The projects are always coming and going.
I personally would send out emails to as many recruiters as you may know or have done
Business with. Now the thing with that is some companies are very strict on dealing with
Only one recruiter per company at a time in all fairness. While with other companies
You may be able to work with maybe two different recruiters. Keep this in mind.

Send s checking in email with your recruiter. Or phone them, if and only if they are a
Talker on the phone.

Now is the time to network. 2015, is a very important year for Meaningful Use.

Referral Bonuses

Referral Bonuses!!!!!!

Did that get your attention or no?
For if it did get your attention, did it hold it long enough for you to research more into achieving said bonus. Our did it not grab your attention for you know that now a days a referral bonus are very rear.

Referral Bonuses are not as popular and practiced how it used to be. For as many referrals that I have personally made. I have not yet to receive any referral bonus and there are many many high quality referrals that I have done. Some companies either no longer do it it have some lengthy stipulation to receive it. I remember back in the good ole days, that you would describe a bonus per head count. Similar to a headhunter. Now it is non relevant.

My question would be why is it now non relevant? It is a great way to earn side money. Recruiters are making earnings off of each consultant. What happened to that consultant warning shifting. The company had made their money, as well as each recruiter. But then each consultant only gets standard pay. No over time. Straight pay...

My my have times change. Remember when EMR consultants would make xx amount of dollars I comparison to the EMR trainer. Remember when being credentialed vs certified vs expertise meant something. Let's all challenge ourselves and achieve what we truly deserve and not settled for less. For it is not easy to be a consultant.

2014 HIMSS Annual Conference February 23-27, 2014