The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently released a fact sheet detailing the progress of healthcare IT in relation to the HITECH Act. This fact sheet provides current statistics and highlights the CMS and the ONCs’ accomplishments in implementing health IT.

According to CMS.gov, here are some key points of the progress to date:

Robust Participation in the EHR Incentive Programs:

• Hospital Participation: More than 85 percent of eligible hospitals are participating in the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs, and more than 75 percent have received incentive payments for meaningfully using EHR technology as of March 2013.
• Physicians and other Health Care Provider Participation: More than 388,000 of the nation’s eligible professionals have registered to participate in the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs, representing 73 percent of all providers eligible to participate. More than 230,000, or 44 percent of all eligible professionals, have received an EHR incentive payment for meaningfully using EHR technology as of March 2013.
• Assistance from Regional Extension Centers: HITECH funds established 62 Health Information Technology Regional Extension Centers (RECs) to offer technical assistance and guidance that is critical to accelerating the provider adoption and meaningful use of EHRs, particularly in rural areas and other underserved settings.
  • RECs are providing assistance and support to more than 44 percent (130,000) of primary care providers and 48 percent (20,000) of Nurse Practitioners nationwide.
  • More than 80 percent of all Federally Qualified Health Centers are enrolled with a REC.
• Effect on the Health IT Marketplace: Federal investment and standard setting have helped to create a robust market for eHealth IT products. As of March 2013, there are 941 vendors providing more than 1,700 unique certified EHR products.

Rapid Adoption of Advanced Technology: Survey data shows that the HITECH Act has dramatically accelerated providers’ use of key health IT capabilities nationwide:

• E-Prescribing: Office-based physicians’ use of e-prescribing has increased from 0.8 percent in December 2006 to 53 percent through January 2013, and more than 94 percent of all pharmacies are now actively e-prescribing.
• Hospitals:  between 2008 and 2012, the number of hospitals using EHR systems with certain advanced functionalities that go even beyond the requirements of Meaningful Use Stage 1 (including physician clinical notes and electronic imaging results) more than quadrupled from 9.4 percent to 44 percent.  
• Doctors: Physician adoption of EHR systems with the same advanced functionalities more than doubled between 2008 and 2012, from 17 percent to 40 percent.

Economic Impact:

• According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 50,000 health IT-related jobs have been created since HITECH was enacted.
• As of January 2013, community colleges have trained 17,049 professionals in health IT, and as of September 2012, universities had graduated over 820 post-graduate and masters-level health IT professionals. This is the result of four ONC-supported workforce development programs that are helping to train the new health IT workforce to meet the increased demand for these workers.
• As of February 2013, the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs have paid $12.6 billion in incentives to hospitals, doctors, and other health care professionals.

You can read more details of the fact sheet here.

<Cherie Lester with EngageMeHIT (www.engagemehit.blogspot.com) wrote this great blog — Thanks Cherie - Sheila>

Over the past 5 years I have spoken to hundreds of EMR Professionals that want to enter the world of the traveling consultant.  Most consultants in our industry will travel weekly on a Mon-Thurs or Sun-Thurs schedule with exceptions for longer stays on a client site or variable remote work. 

When discussing the nature of weekly travel to a “newbie” I have learned to play devil’s advocate.  The first person I ever interviewed when I entered into the HCIT Industry had never traveled before.  He assured me that he “LOVED” to travel and was totally “psyched” about the opportunity.  Six months into his engagement he called me to resign, said he couldn’t take the weekly travel any longer.

 Recently I discussed the riggers of weekly travel with some seasoned road warriors.  Below are results of the Q & A from those discussions:

What made you decide to start traveling for work? Most Frequent Responses:  Higher Income.  New Surroundings and co-workers with each new engagement. Enjoy travel & seeing new locations.

What was the hardest adjustment you had to make when you transitioned into traveling weekly for work? Most Frequent Responses: Being away from family(pets). Missing out on family or other functions (weekly bowling or child’s plays etc) and having to leave spouse to do all the work. Navigating the airports, luggage, flight delays, airport security etc.

What do you wish all consulting/staffing firms offered that would make your travel life easier for you?

This question received the most diverse answers, some of the most frequent responses were:  Corporate Credit Card for travel, better discounts on hotel, car, flights etc.  Occasionally paying for spouse to travel, like over the holiday work weeks etc., better assistance for new travelers, even something simple like a handbook with traveling suggestions.

What did you have to give up when you started traveling weekly?  The number one answer was time with family and friends, some other responses were: freedom to join sports leagues or meet friends for dinner once a week during the week, and for single folks: having a pet, being home during bad weather (someone had a water-main break in sub zero temps and didn’t realize until they got home days later) and being in one place so it’s easier to start a romantic relationship.

What did you gain from becoming a traveling consultant?  Some of the top answers for this question were:  better income, seeing out of town family & relatives more, greater independence, being able to travel to new places, less stress, meeting new people, and quiet time at the hotel in the evenings.

Here are a list of tips from the road warriors:

1.  Pack Light!  Learn to pack everything you need for the week into a carry-on bag.

2.  When traveling coast to coast, find extended stay hotels and if you travel home, leave most of your belongings at the hotel during your absence.

3.  You can bring your pet, just check for local pet friendly hotels.

4.  Always have an extra charger (computer, phone, iPod etc) handy.

5.  Make sure your ID, discount cards, credit cards etc are kept in the same place, are always handy and are in a front pocket for safe keeping.

6.  Keep a folder or file or zippered pouch for all your travel receipts so they’re easy to locate at the end of the week for the purpose of scanning and emailing or mailing to your employer. (if you’re 1099, for tax purposes)

7.  Set up a calendar alert to remind you to log your time & file your expense receipts each week.

8.  Know the name and number to your employers IT Helpdesk in case you have problems with your company issued lap top.

9. Whenever possible do not wear a belt, difficult to remove shoes, hair pins, excessive jewelry, etc so that you can move through airport security quickly.  Make sure your laptop is housed in a safe but easy to manipulate bag, keep your pockets empty etc.

10. If you are single and live alone, make sure you have a neighbor or relative that can check on your place of residence in your absence.

11.  Provide neighbors and relatives the name and number of your hotel, along with your cell phone so they can easily contact you in case of an emergency.

12.  Have the number of your direct boss, a company co-worker and your direct report at the client hospital programmed into your cell phone, that way if your flight is delayed you will be able to alert people of your delay.

Sheila Rogers, Founder and CEO

We all know that social and business media is exploding online.  The HIT industry is no exception.

I was at a seminar the other day, and the speaker used this simple example to explain social media:

• Twitter – I am eating a hamburger
• Facebook – I like hamburgers
• FourSquare – This is where I eat hamburgers
• Instagram – Here is a vintage picture of my hamburger
• YouTube – Here is a video of me eating my hamburger
• LinkedIn – My skills include eating hamburgers
• Pinterest – Here is a hamburger recipe
• LastFM – Now listening to hamburgers

A couple years ago, I knew very little about these tools.  Today, I am considered an “expert” by some.

I encourage you to get on the train!  Healthcare IT will continue to grow the use social media to inform, educate, motivate and recruit.

-Sheila Rogers

Sheila Rogers is Founder and CEO of HIT Consulting Jobs, and can be reached at 214-929-8959, or via email at sheila@hitconsultingjobs.com.

Renee Brannan

Whether you are new to the healthcare information technology industry or a seasoned consultant, use these sixteen steps for presenting your resume to healthcare IT recruiters to stand out in the crowd.

1. First and foremost, have your resume updated and prepared to submit to the recruiter. The competition
is fierce out there, so time is of the essence.

2. Include every aspect of your job duties including all vendor systems. This is not the time to be vague. Consider using bullet points. They’re clean, simple and direct. I seriously doubt the VP of applications at a major health system has time to search for information in your resume. Chances are, he or she has a great relationship with the consulting firm and trusts they are being presented with the right candidate. Make it easy for them to make that decision.

3. Outline your core strengths. Cater your resume towards the specific role for which you are applying.

4. Use key action words such as Built, Tested, Implemented, Supported, Led, etc. Include the specific vendor systems for these roles as well.

5. Be sure to include the month/year for each project/position. Not presenting this information makes you appear less credible.

6. Keep everything uniform – the basics of resume writing. Your resume style should be consistent.

7. Stick with the facts. It’s easier to explain why you don’t know the answer than why you misrepresented your expertise. Ask the recruiter to assist you.

8. Highlight any certifications and education. On the other hand, there is no need to send a soft copy of your certification to the recruiter. They will most likely verify this information via the internet or through a contact with the actual vendor.

9. Include your extended background IF it pertains to the industry. Two to three pages is great if this is necessary to highlight your experience. However, be careful not to go beyond this.

10. Remove any references on your resume, but have them prepared to send separately once there is a confirmed interest from both parties.

11. Prepare one to two letters of reference in soft copy format. Have these ready to send as well.

12. Proofread, Proofread, Proofread, then have someone else Proofread your resume. Let the resume showcase your skills not your grammatical errors. Oh, and please do not refer to yourself in third person.

13. Remember that the recruiter is not an HIT Consultant. Therefore, their technical skills are sometimes limited to searching for key words or specific details within a resume. Do not get offended when you are asked to expand on your experience or provide more detail. The recruiter may be searching for that key piece of information for which the client is seeking.

14. Be willing to reveal the other clients to which you have been submitted. Details are not necessary. This is to protect you from being submitted twice to the same client.

15. Keep track of where your resume has been submitted especially if you are working with multiple consulting firms.

16. Lastly, insist that the recruiter must have your verbal or written permission to submit your resume to clients.

-Renee Brannan
(written in collaboration with Romona Rivere, Sr. Healthcare IT Recruiter)

Renee is a Business Development Manager for HIT Consulting Jobs and can be reached at 214-412-8871 or renee@hitconsultingjobs.com.

Renee Brannan

If you’ve ever been to a HIMSS conference, you know that it’s an amazing opportunity gain to knowledge and insight into the Health IT Marketplace and network with other HIT professionals. Next week, HIMSS13 promises not to disappoint. The conference kicks off on Sunday, March 3, at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans. Keynote speakers will cover topics, such as Meaningful Use, Clinical and Business Intelligence, Mobile Health, Health Reform and many others. Most notably, President Bill Clinton and Eric J. Topol will speak on March 6^th and 5^th.

New offerings this year include the Meaningful Use Experience, which is an area on the exhibit floor to view and compare EHR solutions side-by-side. HIMSS13 Online will broadcast live 12 e-sessions, 10 simulcast sessions, interviews with top speakers and President Bill Clinton live. Also, The Patient Experience through HIT Forum will provide three new sessions focused on enhancing the patient experience.

If you’re looking to network, don’t miss the Opening Reception, among others, which is free to all registered conference attendees. HIMSS13 is your opportunity to gain perceptive from your peers and share some valuable knowledge. Also, if you like to stay connected online, you can follow the conference on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.   

For the complete brochure on HIMSS13, click here

Sheila Rogers, Founder and CEO

HIT folks live busy lives.  Writing to-do lists is an important way to accomplish your short-term goals.  This can be good for your body, soul and mind.

Making a list will decrease stress, increase productivity, keep you organized and focused, and give you a sense of accomplishment.

I start with a list each morning, made the night before.  It includes the things I want to accomplish that day (at the top of the list), and my longer-term goals on the bottom.   I come in each day and I have a roadmap and can hit the ground running. It makes my day run much more smoothly.

Preparation goes a long way when it comes to being more productive. Investing some time into the simple task of list making offers big returns.

Want more reasons to make a daily list?  Here you go:

1. We are busy folks, and things can slip through the cracks

It’s true – the average adult attention span is about fifteen minutes, so we are bound to let a few tasks fall through the cracks here and there.  As you think of something, write it down.  Keep a pad of paper on your desk, and move from one sheet to the next daily.

2. There are more interruptions available to take you off track today than ever

Living in a wired (or wireless) world creates constant interruption.  You mobile phone rings, your email pings, you just received a new text!!! Get the picture?   With a list – you have a reference to always go back to that will keep you on track when you get interrupted.  If you need to write Julie back but your boss calls, write on your to-do list – “e-mail Julie.”

3. You should always be prepared

Whether you are preparing for a major presentation or job hunting, you need a list to keep your priorities in check.

If you have a list you have foolproof way to keep your focus.  Do it, and enjoy getting more done!

-Sheila

Sheila Rogers is Founder and CEO of BSG Boards.  She can be reached at 214-929-8959, or via email at sheila@hitpermjobs.com.

Renee Brannan

While watching the Super Bowl Sunday night, I couldn’t help but think about the amazing adaptability of professional athletes. They are determined and motivated individuals who are very regularly traded to different organizations and have the ability to adapt and thrive in an ever-changing environment.

Adaptability, by definition, means being able to change as circumstances require it.

As a Healthcare IT consultant, your atmosphere is constantly changing. You travel to various parts of the country, you’re involved in new projects and you work with many different personalities. In my experience working with hiring managers in the Health IT industry, there is a strong desire for consultants with adaptability. Of course, talent is a must, but the ability to “mesh well” with a team seems just as important.

Nolan Ryan said, “Enjoying success requires the ability to adapt. Only by being open to change will you have a true opportunity to get the most from your talent.”

I believe this holds true for Healthcare IT consultants. Your success greatly depends on your ability to adapt to different project teams. Are you open to change? Are you a true team player? The most successful HIT consultants have mastered this characteristic. As you begin your next project, focus on how you can successfully adapt to your new environment.

-Renee Brannan

Renee Brannan is Director of Sales and Marketing for HIT Consulting Jobs.  She can be reached at renee@hitconsultingjobs.com.

The adoption of ICD-10 code sets for reporting diagnosis and procedures to payers is set to occur on October 14, 2014.  Undoubtedly, if you haven’t heard much about these changes yet, you will soon. 

The new code sets, which more than quadruples the number of reporting codes to over 69,000, represents an amazing increase in the level of reporting and detail.  The benefits of this transition include:

• More accurate coding for diagnosis and procedures
• Better billing accuracy
• Better ability to track disease
• Pervasive use of codes throughout systems

The ICD-10 conversion may require a wide variety of application changes for healthcare provider organizations – something akin to a Y2K event.  The changes will impact everything from billing systems, to practice management and EHR.

Many in the healthcare community believe that there is at least a chance for the implementation date to change, but virtually everyone agrees that the transition will take place, as the US is one of the last developed countries in the world to make this change.  Identifying a project sponsor and strategic steering board as champions for this massive transition are starting points for the adoption of ICD-10 code sets.

<We are proud to support Ivesia Healthcare IT Solutions, one of our new sponsers! -Sheila>

There are a lot of companies that have jumped into the healthcare technology consulting arena recently, and many times we do not hear such pleasant things about them. This may be because they churn their people or just do not treat them with respect.  However, there is a company we have recently noticed and consistently hear is doing very well.  We did a little digging and found one of the important reasons is due to how they treat their employees/consultants. We believe and have confirmed that they definitely go above and beyond for their employees.  Interested in learning more or working for this company?  Please read more…

Ivesia Healthcare IT Solutions is a leading healthcare technology consulting firm that has gone from $500,000 in annual sales to close to $10,000,000 in just a few years. Many ask how did they do it? Well we think we found their secret and it is simple. They treat their employees with respect. Their philosophy is a happy employee will make a happy customer which in turn will drive more business and it sure has worked. Ivesia does it by offering their team great projects and the opportunity to work with some of the leading clients in the industry. They offer quarterly & annual bonuses, health benefits and a 401K with a match, and also a nice surprise on their birthday. Other things they do are monthly team outings at a local watering hole and quarterly company events.  Another item that sets them apart is they assign a Consultant Relationship Manager to help their employees with whatever they need assistance with while out in the field. The Consultant Relationship Manager’s focus is to make life easy for the Ivesia consultant while on the road. It’s like having a concierge for their personal work life.

If you are a healthcare technology consultant, you have a lot of different projects and opportunities to choose from these days. Our recommendation is to check out Ivesia as we continue to hear great things about them. Why not make Ivesia your new “home” like so many other happy consultants. You won’t regret it!

Ivesia Healthcare IT has assembled some of the best and brightest minds in healthcare to assist our clients through this maze of healthcare regulations. We help providers and vendors implement quality IT systems that meet Meaningful Use and ultimately improve patient quality and safety. Our expertise crosses every single vendor to include Epic, Cerner, McKesson, Meditech and Allscripts. Core skill areas are Project Management, Workflow/Design, Application Build, Training/Go-Live and Integration (HL7).

Employee Testimonials

“I have to say, I have worked for a few consulting firms, and by far Ivesia has been the best, you guys treat me great, and it is a pleasure and honor to be a part of the Ivesia family. “

-          McKesson Consultant

I like the idea of having a Consultant Relationship Manager available as the first point of contact after being hired to be a liaison with getting issues and questions resolved. The recruiting staff are very professional and caring as they are the initial ‘face’ of Ivesia. My experience with my recruiter was exceptional.

-          Cerner Consultant

I feel very fortunate to be working for Ivesia for the last eight months. My experiences and training have been invaluable and working with Ivesia has been nothing but pleasant. I will continue to recommend Ivesia to my former colleagues looking to make a change!

-          McKesson Consultant

<Our friend Brian Hudson wrote this blog and I think it is very cool…Happy reading! -Sheila>

The pop singer Prince said it best with his hit song “1999” – “So tonight I’m gonna party like it’s 1999” – HIT/HIM professionals should use this as an anthem for the current state of Healthcare Reform, EMR, and ICD-10 implementations occurring nationwide. Today’s healthcare environment for HIT professionals is similar to that of Y2K; with the major difference being, there is no set completion date that the new Millennium provided! As the tune goes – there seems to be no “Oops – out of time”! This is even truer today, with the confusion surrounding the recent decision to delay ICD-10.

In fact, uncertainty surrounding ICD-10 deadlines could drive expenditures to far exceed what was spent to prepare for Y2K. A US Dept of Economics & Statistics report titled, The Economics of Y2K and the Impact on the United States, reported that an estimated $100B was spent by firms and public agencies during the Y2K ramp up from 1997-1999. Costs associated with Healthcare reform, EMR, and ICD-10 could easily dwarf these numbers as implementation dates slide.

For HIT/HIM professionals, now is the best of times! HIT/HIM professionals should market themselves and leverage skills accordingly. HIT/HIM professionals have taken on more duties and responsibilities in health organizations as they ramp up for multiple projects that are intricate and time sensitive. These organizations often struggle to give wage increases that reflect these new responsibilities due to outdated Merit Pay Systems or Human Resource programs that do not keep pace with the current demand market. Many HIT professionals have moved into consulting where the financial and career rewards can be much greater and skill sets are developed across multiple settings.

Healthcare Executives as well have moved to leverage the diverse skills sets of these HIT consultants to provide timely and efficient execution, while not adding additional FTE expenditures. Utilizing consultants also allows for flexibility based on uncertainties and the ability to budget accordingly. The challenge for Healthcare Executives today is that they are too focused on short-term cost – rather than the long-term ROI of the projects.  One poorly implemented project or system can create havoc in the months and years following, for not only employees using the new systems, but also in lost revenue to the organization as productivity decreases. To complicate matters, many organizations have moved to VMS to control costs in the area of Human capital and dictate rates – many organizations have lost out on skilled talent that can maximize ROI and assist in future employment/provider of choice status.

Understanding that RATE = SELECTION creates a win/win for both the HIT/HIM professional who is seeking to maximize their value in a demand market, as well as the Healthcare organization attempting to navigate the many elements of Healthcare Reform. As the demand increases, the “war for talent” will escalate. Unlike Y2K, the party may continue for a long time with no definite end in sight.

Brian Hudson serves as Director of Kforce Healthcare specializing in HIM consulting, ICD-10, EMR, and Healthcare Solutions. Previous experience in diverse executive leadership roles including; domestic and international healthcare human capital, entrepreneurial start up experience as Co-founder and President of a small boutique, full cycle, healthcare firm; along with SVP, RVP and Director leadership roles for both private growth and public fortune 100 companies.