Anyone done HEDIS with Outcomes Inc?

[changeseeker]

Hello,

I'm considering a HEDIS job with Outcomes Inc for the spring 2006. I live in Seattle and have 2 toddlers that I will need to find care for while I do this. Outcomes said they pay $4/chart and expect an average of 6-8 charts done per hour. Apparently all that needs to be done is finding lab results and copying them. Not really anything that requires much skill! I was hoping it would be interesting but it sounds pretty boring.

Can anyone tell me how many charts they typically do in an hour for this type of work? They only pay mileage after 40miles.

Any idea if the work is steady and reliable? Don't want to pay for daycare and then end up not working.

Know of any other companies that are hiring in Seattle area?

[Jayne,RN]

I have worked for Outcomes, Inc. since 2006. All work is temporary. I've gotten 4 to 4.50 per chart. Depending on project & type of chart, you can do 6 to 10 per hour. Each project, I've had a different field reviewer advocate. It really depends on your advocate as to how well you project goes. The company has seemed to have gotten better organized over the years, but at the beginning of every project I always feel they are so unorganized. It always gets better as the project continues. You DO have to keep track of your work, because payroll always seems to be an issue. If you have to depend on a certain amount of money or expect a certain amount of work, DON'T, and you won't be disappointed. What's good is that they work with your schedule, so you can do something else, or pick the kids up from school, or whatever.

[kymaja]

I was hired approximately two months ago as a Field Reviewer with Outcomes, Inc. The person who interviewed me (by telephone) said work was available in my area, and advised me to return all the employment paperwork as soon as possible (which I did that same day). Two days later, I received a phone call from my advocate advising me to take my online test as soon as possible so that a laptop and scanner could be sent to me (which I did the same day). The next day (Friday) my advocate told me the equipment would be sent the following Monday, Tuesday at the latest. Well, that was about 2 months ago and still no equipment.... no equipment, no work.

Has anyone else had this problem?

[shemac6]

Yep, same thing is happening to me. My equipment was on the UPS truck for delivery when it was called back to the company. That was a month ago. Company reps that I speak to sound interested in helping me when I call, but then never get back to me with an explanation or update.

[kymaja]

Thanks for replying!

Exactly the same here. My "advocate" told me he would get back to me no later than last Friday, and guess what.... still no call. What a joke. I'll let you know if anything develops!

[RN2035]

so i've been working for them for few weeks, first time doing field review, don't think i'll do it again. outcomes and my field reviewer advocate have treated me well, and they worked around my schedule, but it's just not worth it unless you look at this job as a mean to generate supplemental income.

i am an rn with few years of clinical experience, was making between $25-$35/hr at the different jobs i was working at but then had kids and was looking for something more flexible, this job sounded flexible until you find out they send you all around town and to crazy (some dangerous) parts of town.

i've been able to average around 5 charts an hour. some charts are easy and be less than 20 pages, some can be more than 100 and a complete nightmare, especially if the provider is not well organized. some charts are unavailable and you don't get paid for those, i've travelled over 40 miles to sites to find out only 3 of the 30 charts were available so i got paid the $4.50 for each of the 3 charts, my day was pretty much shot.

i've had problems with charts where i will scan some dates out of order and i will have to fix them at home later, and you need to be familiar with computers and acrobat. even without any fixing, it takes a good hour to just organize and upload the charts at night; you don't get compensated for that time either.

on a typical day, i would have to travel to 2-3 sites (sometimes 5 sites) and do maybe 15-20 charts. sometimes more, but not often. if you figure 20 charts x $4.50 = $90 a day, plus $10-$20 for mileage. even at $100-$120 a day, i'm basically making around $15 an hour at most. i was on the road a lot, put a lot of wear and tear on my new car, and ate awful fast food as i tried to hurry between sites. it's really not worth it for rn's, we can do much better doing almost anything else. outcomes can improve by paying more for charts, or more for larger charts and some basic hourly rate if they want to keep good nurses on their payroll, otherwise, i think turnover will continue to be quite high and would not be able to keep the good ones.

[shemac6]

RN2035,

Thanks for posting about your experience. I was pretty disapointed that they didn't have enough charts in my area to employ me afterall, but after reading your post, not so much

[cansv]

Is there anyway to become HEDIS certified through a legitimate online training source or does each contractor have their own standards? I ask because jobs in my area, MD, require previous HEDIS training. Thanks.

Curtis

[AAndereg]

Can you do chart abstraction from home with Outcomes?

[Star City RN]

Can you do chart abstraction from home with Outcomes?

This my second HEDIS season with Outcomes, and I've been told an emphatic "No" by their staffers.

[chickenmama]

I agree that there is a problem doing office reviews. I also have an issue with the trainers as they refer you back to the online stuff. That is not how I learn and I told them that. Walk me through and I will learn. Hasn't been done. They want alot from us, but currently I need the money.

[pianogirl52]

Do not take a position with this company. I hired on over a month ago, took and passed the pre-employment test and was told that work would start June 1st. I heard nothing from them for over two weeks and finally received an e-mail saying they were still in the process of "negotiating contracts" with the insurance companies. Now today I get an e-mail saying that the PIA project has been "put on hold until later this year because of contact negotiations"! How about getting your contracts in place before you hire people? Meanwhile, I turned down another job while waiting in good faith for this job to start. VERY disappointed, but after reading all the posts on this website, it sounds like this is pretty much their MO. Wish I would have discovered this site b4 I got involved with them!!

[RubyRN,CHPN]

Sorry for your negative experience. A few weeks ago I received a phone call from their recruiter "sampling" previous employees to inquire if they would be intested in participating in the PIA project. I asked her if it was "a go" or just an inquiry. My reply was not an enthusiastic yes; but rather call me when you figure things out and I'll tell you if I'm available. They have not yet called me back. Whether it be my unwillingness to commit 100% to them or lack of projects I don't know. They did tell me I did not have to commit to a full 5 days a week but would be satisfied with as few as 2 days a week of work from me. Needless to say, it will be all good when they call me back and it works for me...not holding my breath. PIA has been a lucrative project in the past. Maybe someone else will sign you on. They tell me they've changed their recruiting process recently. I hadn't heard from them for two years. Curious to know what others are saying, haven't done anything for them, like I said, for two years.