How to Choose a Medical Coding Staffing Company
If you’re an experienced medical coder, you already know that your skills and expertise are needed at hospitals and other healthcare facilities across the country. But how do you go about choosing among so many options, especially in areas that may be unfamiliar to you?
It starts by selecting a staffing company that can help you learn about the marketplace, find medical coding jobs that match your priorities, and then prepare you to succeed.
If that seems like a tall order, don’t worry. The following article highlights an expert’s tips, advice and insider information to help you choose the best staffing company for your medical coding jobs.
Why Work with a Staffing Agency?
Working directly with a healthcare staffing agency and a dedicated recruiter can streamline the job search for medical coding candidates vs. just applying to online job boards. Oftentimes, a candidate will submit a resume online and it will get lost in the shuffle. Partnering with a recruiter is an excellent way to ensure you are never overlooked, especially when a lot of candidates are applying.
“We have direct contact with the person who is actually making decisions to hire someone,” explained Lois M., senior recruiter with Revenue Cycle Solutions at AMN Healthcare. “You cut through a lot of red tape and you’re actually being submitted to someone who is the right person. A lot of times, the employer will take the recruiter’s recommendation and hire right away. It saves a lot of time and it doesn’t cost any money. It makes a lot of sense to work with a recruiter in the contract world.”
Examine an Agency’s Reputation and Experience
Choosing a reputable staffing agency with experienced, knowledgeable recruiters should be at the forefront of your selection process for your next medical coding job, Lois emphasized.
“One of the things a candidate really wants to think about is what kind of questions the recruiter is asking them,” she said. “You want them to be asking you questions that you didn't think of asking. It’s also important that they are listening and they follow-up with you right away.”
Medical coding candidates should do their research and due diligence to ensure the agency is professional and reputable. Take some time to hop on LinkedIn or the company’s own website to look at the company size, how long they’ve been in business and the types of contracts they have available.
Consider Pay, Benefits & Remote Opportunities
Contract medical coding jobs are a great way to earn top pay and benefits, even while working from the comfort of your own home. In fact, the majority of medical coding jobs with AMN’s Revenue Cycle Solutions (RCS) division are remote.
But whether you prefer a virtual work environment or in-person work, you’ll want to seek out medical coding jobs that offer top pay and benefits – especially contracts with a strong employment staffing agency.
“When you are talking to agencies like ours, you want to ask about PTO, the health benefits, and 401(k), including how it accumulates. If a recruiter or employment company can’t answer some of these questions, that is a red flag,” Lois said. “Also be sure to ask when the benefits kick in — that’s a very important question to ask.”
AMN’s compensation and benefits package stands out from the competition. A sampling of benefits that accompany our medical coding jobs are:
- Medical, dental, and vision benefits
- Paid time off
- Paid continuing education time and free CEUs
- Paid holidays
- 401(k) retirement plan with matching
- Short-term disability and life insurance
- And more
Understand Contract Types
Medical coding jobs can be found in many different types of facilities, and for varying lengths of time. A medical coding job with AMN’s RCS division, for example, can last anywhere from a few days to a few months -- depending on contract type. Lois has even placed medical coders in jobs that lasted several years. “There are long-term contracts, short-term and even temp-to-hire.” Asking about the contract type at the beginning of the process is a crucial part of finding the right medical coding job.
“It’s also important to ask about production expectations,” she advised. “When you are talking about production, there are different charts and expectations on how many you will need to do per hour.”
Connect with Top Medical Coding Jobs Today
Jobs for inpatient and outpatient coders are in demand at facilities throughout the country, so there has never been a better time to start working with a staffing agency like AMN’s Revenue Cycle Solutions team.
“At the end of the day, listen to your gut when you’re speaking with someone. A lot of times you can tell by their tone of voice or the way that they listen if this is a person that you would want to work with,” Lois concluded.
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