The Healthcare IT Jobs “Dating Game”

Welcome to my EMR Road Warrior (RW) Journal, read about experiences I have endured over these past six years as a successful traveling Certified Electronic Medical Records (EMR) Consultant.

At the end of each Dating Game show, the host would ask the bachelorette, “Will it be bachelor number one,  bachelor two, or  bachelor three?” I know, I know Healthcare IT Today is all about jobs and our experiences in this industry. So you should be wondering – what does this 1970’s show have to do with it?  Let me explain.  I stated in my last blog post that I was being “courted” by various Healthcare IT recruiters. It’s been about three weeks now since I completed my most recent nine-month-long  EMR contract assignment. So many “suitors” have called, emailed and detailed their recruiting firm’s interest in my professional skills and capabilities. Therefore, I’m now feeling like that ‘70s show ‘bachelorette’ as well as the Dating Game show host, by asking myself Will it be the contract assignment from the recruiting firm for work in the midwest, the southeast, or the local one, not far from my home?”

Wow, what a difference a year makes! I remember it was about this same time last year and I had also just completed an EMR contract assignment…and believe me there were not so many “suitors” seeking me out. I’m sure it was due to the nationwide economic downturn that just began to be apparent last year.  I’m hoping with so many new contract assignment possibilities presented to me recently, it is some kind of indication that things are looking up regarding the nationwide jobs’ horizon.

OK, so now back to my beautiful dilemma! I have narrowed my new EMR contract assignment “suitors” down to three choices and I must decide which one to select. On the old Dating Game show, during the courting process the bachelorette could not see her date selections…but things are definitely changing thanks to sites like Facebook, LinkedIn,  and of course Healthcare IT Today!  We now have this chance to really check each other out – the recruiters, the healthcare facility clients, and the healthcare IT professional job seekers. Looks like “blind dating” will be a thing of the past.  Duh!…maybe I should have titled this blog “The Bachelorette / The Bachelor” the new “dating game” show that airs week after week, revealing everything about everyone before a choice has to be made!  Oh well…I’ll just keep going with the “old school” dating game premise. I thought it would be helpful to provide a little background of how I formulate my own decision making for the “Healthcare IT Jobs Dating Game” process. Detailed below for your review are examples of entries I have made that show the pros and cons of each contract assignment I’ve decided to choose from.

My EMR Contract assignments options and selections grid:  (Rated – Excellent, Good, or OK)


Items to consider and questions to ask:
#1 Contract Assignment: Mid West #2 Contract Assignment: South East
# 3 Contract Assignment: Local
Hourly rate? Good Good Good
Contract Terms?
(Travel time, hotel accommodations, reimbursement and pay dates, etc.)
Good Good Excellent
Bonus: I can commute daily, since this assignment is close to my home. No need for hotel stay nor airflights.
Length of Contract? 6 months
(with extension possibility)
3 months
(with extension possibility)
1 year
How well are the
job specifications matched with my skills and capabilities?
Good Excellent Excellent
My Comfort level with the recruiting firm is? OK Excellent OK

Feel free to comment on how you think you could use a grid like mine for your “Healthcare IT Jobs Dating Game!”

What additional questions would you add to this grid?

(Look out for my next blog for the ‘…Engagement’, can you guess which contract assignment I choose?)

About the author

Shirley Corsey

Shirley Corsey is a certified Electronic Medical Records (EMR) Consultant/Road Warrior, and owner of her own online training center for the Healthcare Information Technology industry. She is a seasoned Healthcare IT professional with over 25 years experience, with a recent career focus for the past 9 years in the EMR job market.

1 Comment

  • Hi Shirley – I am glad to hear of another sign that the job market is heating up. I would add the following criteria:
    1) Can you learn from your boss/co-workers?
    2) Are they inclined to go out of their way to help you learn?
    3) Is there an opportunity for you to mentor other consultants or the client?
    Best of luck! It sounds like you can’t make a bad decision! Joe

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