The waiting game.

So, I spent my weekend cooking (homemade pita bread filled with slow cooked Greek chicken. Chili. Mini blueberry pie cookies), and preparing for some interviews I had lined up.

Earlier this year, I spent about four months working on a project with Partners In Care, on a volunteer basis, helping them to implement a scanning system for their paper records into their electronic record system. I kind of managed to create a new position while I was there, and things were rolling along nicely for me to fill that spot until the beginning of summer. But then.. nothing happened. One of the last times I was there the office manager had said, "Management will not hire someone new for this." and I figured that was it.

Well, Monday I had an interview with them for this position that I created, and I'm essentially a shoe-in for it.  I'd be working with the Medical Records department scanning charts, filing and naming them primarily. I would spend some time with the three girls who currently work in the department learning their individual jobs in order to be back up for them when one is sick or needs vacation time, as a secondary job description. Third, the administrative offices and the Hospice House buildings are attached to each other. Hospice House has been planning to begin scanning but still has not. That would be another part of my job description, along with backing up the one medical records tech on that side as well.

Finally, during the interview there was expressed interest in my getting my RHIT, because in order to maintain their yearly certification they hire an outside RHIT to come in and do the check. They are interested in having their own RHIT in-house. Which means I will be the ONLY RHIT on staff.
The downside to all this is, I would be starting at part time (24 hours a week), and it's in Bend, while we are attempting to settle some roots in Redmond.

To add to the roots in Redmond, Ed, who had an interview at the swimming pool last Friday, went in for a night of volunteering with swim classes Monday, and didn't leave without first filling out W-2's! He is starting out part time with just a few hours, but as he gets a little more experience and all his certifications sorted out, he will get more. They were looking specifically for an adult, as most of their staff are currently high school students, who are also on the swim team or water polo team and periodically are out of town at meets, and therefore there is less staff at the pool. So that is very exciting news.

Today I had another interview, for a full time Medical Records position in Redmond. It went really well. The office manager had said she received over 75 applicants for it in two days. She had narrowed it down to a "core" list of people who either had current education or experience in the field. This position has five main duties, including sorting correspondence from the fax server, filing it or forwarding it to physicians. Sorting mail, release of information, backing up the front office and phones, and making sure the network between their (fully electronic) system and the hospital lab are communicating correctly.

I have been really hoping for this position, mainly because it's full time and in Redmond. And after interviewing and getting  more information about the position and company I am even more interested. It's a small, but busy, company owned by the two main physicians. There is a third who just started working there about a year ago, and they also rent out office space and exam rooms to a couple other physicians a few times a week. I also feel it's a little more relevant to the education I just spent three years getting. I think the interview went really well, I will find out next week if I am selected for a second interview. If so, the second interview will be scheduled for the following week, with the two physician owners.

Now I wait to hear back. My main concern is waiting two weeks for a second interview, assuming I am offered one. I don't know how long Partners in Care will wait for a response if I am waiting for another interview. I'll be spending the rest of this week thinking about the decisions I may have to be making soon. There is an exciting event hopefully happening later this week. If all goes as planned, look to hear from me again sometime Friday.