The PwC report found that 52 percent of respondents would be interested in a value-based insurance plan. For example, such a plan might have lower fees for treatments known to be effective, while new treatments with unproven benefits would cost more.

Another key finding was that 65 percent of the people surveyed believe that health plans should offer a wide range of choices in terms of hospitals, doctors and treatment options. That’s an important consideration for healthcare organizations now in the process of building integrated partnerships and alliances to deliver more cost-efficient care.  In the last year, health insurers committed more than $2 billion to acquire or align with physician groups, clinics, and hospitals, according to PwC.

Finally, the PwC report also noted that more than half of respondents (52 percent) who were familiar with the health insurance exchange concept said they believe it will be easier to find and purchase a competitive health plan when the exchange markets open to consumers in 2014.

So it’s clear that consumers want value and choice from their providers, along with a lower cost of care.  Finding the right balance will be a continuing challenge for healthcare organizations of all sizes.

If you’re interested in downloading the full PwC report, click here.

A temporary staffing position can be even more valuable if you are making a career change into healthcare. Let’s say you recently earned your nursing degree or lab tech credentials. In that case, a temporary position allows you to get your foot in the door with a potential long-term employer.  It lets you develop and use your skills and training, so that you have practical on-the-job experience to go with your degree or credentials. That gives you more material for your resume and a potential reference from the temporary employer if you decide to continue your career search elsewhere.

In both situations, you can be on the job, building your confidence, earning money, and putting your skills to work helping others – without necessarily making a permanent commitment. Instead, you have flexibility in regard to scheduling and in the length of a temporary assignment – an important consideration if you have young children or are planning to start a family.  That flexibility is also important if you may need to relocate in the not-too-distant future.  If you are interested in temporary employment in the healthcare and  insurance sectors, All Medical Personnel can help you achieve your goals!

When in any job interview, your appearance and your actions make a big difference in the outcome.  Recruiters respond much more positively to a candidate who looks and acts like a professional.  Here are several suggestions for making a good impression.

• Dress like a professional.  That usually means wearing a suit to the interview.  Make sure it’s clean and pressed, with no dog or cat hair on the sleeves.  Wear dress shoes, not sandals.
• Get a haircut or a trim before the interview.  Again, a neat and tidy hairdo beats an unkempt mane any time.
• Present a clean, fresh face.  Wash your skin and don’t overdo the makeup.
• Practice your handshake - not too firm and not too limp.
• Speak like a professional.  Your voice should have a warm and friendly conversational tone.
• Use healthcare-related words.  When talking with the recruiter, be sure to throw in a few technical terms or other healthcare-related words.  That helps to convey your professional knowledge and understanding of the position.
• Role play with a friend.  If you’re not sure about your appearance, manners or conversational ability, hold a practice interview with a friend or family member.  It’s a great way to spot any flaws in advance so you can make a great impression during the interview when it really counts.

But the EMR is just one of the ways the continuing advance of technology is changing medical practices.  As network bandwidth keeps increasing, video will become an increasingly common form of communication from hospital to doctor, from doctor to doctor and from patient to doctor.  That evolution of video, combined with the rapid proliferation of smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices, opens the door to new types of patient encounters.

Technology also creates new growth opportunities for your practice, by removing two big obstacles to office visits: geographic distance and time constraints.  For example, a patient could use a mobile device with a two-way video connection to describe her symptoms and send real-time images of the affected area, while you access her medical history from your database. Once you have made the diagnosis, you could send her an e-prescription for immediate downloading, and upload your notes and the video conversation to her EMR.  While “e-consultations” will not be suitable for all patients or practice areas, they are likely to grow in importance, particularly for general practitioners and primary care clinics.  So, keep building those technology skills to stay current with trends in healthcare delivery.

• Make a list of all your social media sites (including older ones like Friendster or MySpace) and see what your profile looks like.  You could do a quick online search for your name to be sure you have all the sites, and uncover any potential surprises. Remember that a recruiter can also do a quick search on your name.
•  Update your profiles to reflect your current position, skills and accomplishments.  Make sure to highlight information that will support your job search, such as “15 years of hospital nursing experience,” or “strong financial skills including A/R management.”
• Be sure you have appropriate privacy settings for Facebook, particularly if you have uploaded personal photos or comments that you don’t want a potential employer to see.  Do the same thing for your Twitter account.
• Consider uploading a YouTube video where you discuss your accomplishments and career goals.  This gives a recruiter a chance to “meet you” prior to a face-to-face interview.  Include a link to your video in your job search emails or other social media accounts.
• Join relevant social media groups, including business, alumni and civic organizations.  It gives you a chance to network online, and make new professional contacts. It won’t get you a job, but it might open the door to your next interview!

Under an ACO, those providers would team up to treat an individual patient across care settings, including doctor’s offices, hospitals, and long-term facilities.  The Medicare Shared Savings Program will reward ACOs that lower health care costs while meeting certain quality standards. 

 ”For too long, it has been too difficult for health care providers to work together to coordinate and improve the care their patients receive,” said U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius last April.  “That has real consequences: patients have gaps in their care, receive duplicative care, or are at increased risk of suffering from medical mistakes.   Accountable Care Organizations will improve coordination and communication among doctors and hospitals, improve the quality of the care their patients receive, and help lower costs.”

Now, after tinkering with the rules and incentive programs in 2011, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the agency administering the voluntary ACO program, is ready to accept applications.   Analysts expect the first ACOs to launch in April.   The results will be followed closely by healthcare organizations throughout the country to see if this concept will make a difference.  But with its goals of lowering cost and providing more coordinated care, the ACO concept is clearly pointing the way to the future delivery of healthcare services.

1. Coverage for a physician, who is on vacation, has taken ill or on maternity leave.
2. Often, clients need locum tenens coverage while perm recruiting.  This allows for continued revenue streams and patient care as well as preventing physician burnout within the existing practice.
3. Many of our clients utilize locums physicians to test new service lines and new markets to assess the potential for expanding revenue streams.
4. Clients enjoy the ability to work with a physician on a temporary basis prior to offering them a permanent contract.  This “working interview” scenario is an excellent option for the provider as well as the client and makes the transition to a new practice more seamless.
5. Supplemental staff.  Many clients like the flexibility that locum tenens give their practice.  They can have a reoccurring provider as a part of the staff without having to worry about a long term contract.

Offering referral incentives can benefit a healthcare system, hospital, physician’s group or laboratory company in a number of ways.  An employee referral incentive program frequently accelerates the hiring process and reduces recruiting costs.  In addition, these new hires are likely to get up to speed more quickly, enhancing organizational productivity, and stay in their positions for a longer period, improving overall retention and reducing turnover.

For job candidates, having an “inside” connection at a healthcare organization can also be highly beneficial.  Personal networking has always been one of the most effective ways to get a new job, even in an era of social media and online job search sites.  A friend or neighbor may learn about a new position before it’s advertised, and provide advice about how to contact the organization’s recruiter. In addition, that person could provide a personal reference, helping to smooth the way to a quick hiring.

Whether a candidate is seeking a full-time healthcare position, locum tenens employment, or a flexible temporary position, personal networking can play a key role in opening the door to a new job and a more satisfying career.

• “Try before you buy.”  Taking a temporary position allows you to “try out” a new role before making a permanent commitment.
• Apply new skills.  If you’ve completed a training program or earned a new certification, you can put those skills to work right away in a temporary position, rather than waiting for an opening with your current employer.
• Making new career contacts.  Taking a temporary position is a good way to get “inside” an organization, making those personal contacts that are vital for moving ahead in your career.
• Flexible scheduling.  Temporary positions allow you to earn money, while accommodating your non-work responsibilities.  That can be particularly important if you have young children or need to care for a spouse, partner or aging relative.
• A new setting.  Many people enjoy their work, but relish a change of scenery from time to time.  If you’re a nurse, PT, lab tech or other healthcare professional, for instance, you may want to continue your career in a  new location.
• Solid benefits.  Staffing firms offer competitive salaries and benefits, providing the assurance of a paycheck while you’re working.
• Career advancement.  If you’re considering stepping into a managerial role, a temporary position may help you determine if this would be a good long-term fit for you.

If you’d like more information about temporary staffing positions, contact us today.  We can help make your New Year’s resolution come true!

Whether you are working, on vacation or somewhere in between, All Medical Personnel would like to invite you to take a few minutes to reflect on the past year.  Have you been able to move ahead toward your achieving your most important personal or professional goals?  What challenges have you had to face and overcome?  What have you learned from your experiences in 2011?

In an increasingly hectic world, it’s a challenge to find quiet time for yourself.  But it’s important to carve our a few minutes a day to think about your goals and direction in life.  Turn off the mobile phone, step away from the computer, let go of the steering wheel, and get back in touch with yourself.   It’s like using a GPS device to establish your current location on your life-long journey.

As 2011 draws to a close, we invite you to take advantage of your downtime and reflect on the future.  All of us at All Medical Personnel wish you a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year.