How to learn Hedis in order to apply for jobs

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I recently read a lot about QI/QA on this forum, and this nursing specialty sounds so interesting. I really want to get away from the bedside care nursing. My friend recently got a job with healthcare insurance as a Utilization Review Nurse ( or something like that) and is very happy; she will also get full training. I just saw an ad in my area for Hedis Nurse Reviewer and Utilization Review Nurse; they want acute care experience ( which I do - 6 years of medical-surgical), and Hedi's knowledge is a preferred/big plus. I don't know anything about Hedis and am not sure if they will be willing to train me appropriately. I'm so confused if I should have applied for these jobs. The job of Hedis Nurse Reviewer involves traveling to Md/hospital offices, and I don't understand quite what I would be doing exactly.

Of those of you who work in that field- do you recommend reading certain books or getting specific certifications for these types of jobs? How do I learn Hedis before the job?

Victoria0918, I am interested in speaking with you regarding the HEDIS extractor.

I am going to take the classes very soon! I have tons of RN case management experience.

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I am also interested, although I see your post is from July.

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You can pretty much forget about being hired unless you already have experience in HEDIS. You probably need to take a HEDIS certification training course, and this still doesn't get you a job. It will help a little. I took the course in August of this year through carenational.com. It was an online course that took a week to complete. Care National is on facebook too. It is a hiring agency that recruits HEDIS nurses. Kimberly Williams teaches the course, and she is wonderful. I got as far as an interview with United Health Care but didn't get the job. It was offering $35/hour. Sometimes if people quit after HEDIS season starts and they are in a pinch for someone to take their place, they will give someone a chance that doesn't have experience. Also, you can start out as a chart chaser the first year, and that's a good way to get your foot in the door with HEDIS. These are the people that go to the offices and get the charts ready for the abstractors. These jobs don't pay as much but will get your foot in the door to maybe work as an abstractor the following year. Care National offers a course for chart chasers too. You are also graded on your accuracy with a score, and you have a chart quota and deadlines to meet. I'm sure just like any job. You learn as you go, but it sounded stressful to me. I ended up finding another work-from-home nursing job with less stress and benefits; although the pay isn't $35/hour, I'll take it.

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Hello all! I know this is an old thread, but I was wondering if any of you had any updates on how you're doing, if you've actually secured a HEDIS job, taken paid training and found a job, etc. I have some data abstraction experience with the NCDR CathPCI registry, but I would like to figure out how to get started with HEDIS nursing! I am looking to move away from the bedside after five years of hospital nursing, Cardiac Cath Lab, ICU, and PACU. Is the NCQA training worth paying for out of pocket? Are there any companies that welcome newbies? @jlminnc @Victoria0918 @beeker @loribaeumler @Nicolewhitneyrn

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