Brenda Harms
Lakewood Ranch,FL
Summary
Results-driven Healthcare Operations Leader with 15+ years of expertise in Patient Access, Financial Counseling, and Team Development. Demonstrated ability to optimize workflows and enhance patient experiences through effective change management and strategic process improvement. Proven track record of exceeding performance goals and driving organizational efficiency.
Overview
39
39
years of professional experience
Work History
Financial Counselor Team Lead
Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital
01.2024 - Current
- Directed team performance using metrics dashboards, improving efficiency and accountability.
- Partnered with senior leadership to align department goals with hospital-wide objectives.
- Strengthened compliance culture, reducing audit findings and ensuring regulatory adherence.
- Enhanced ER registration workflows, improving throughput and patient satisfaction.
Medical Transcriptionist
Independent Contractor
10.2015 - Current
- Provide medical transcription and editing for ECMC University Orthopedic Services surgeon group using Medent program.
- Utilize transcription software and tools to enhance efficiency and accuracy in the transcription process.
- Research unfamiliar terms or topics to ensure accurate representation in the transcriptions.
- Communicate effectively with clients regarding project specifications, timelines, and any necessary clarifications or revisions needed for completed transcripts.
Patient Access ED Supervisor
Lakewood Ranch Medical Center
05.2023 - 01.2024
- Supervised 16+ staff across ER, PBX, and urgent care, ensuring seamless coverage.
- Implemented performance feedback system, increasing staff engagement scores.
- Led documentation audits, improving regulatory compliance and reducing errors.
Patient Access Specialist Sr/Lead
Integris Baptist Medical Center
09.2022 - 04.2023
- Reduced onboarding time by 30% through effective training and mentoring of recruits.
- Boosted hospital revenue by consistently surpassing monthly collection goals over $40k.
- Enhanced patient satisfaction by efficiently scheduling and coordinating outpatient services.
- Ensured full clinic coverage by optimizing task delegation and scheduling processes.
Patient Financial Advocate
Integris Baptist Medical Center
01.2022 - 09.2022
- Guided patients through financial assistance options, improving access to care.
- Assisted with inpatient/outpatient registration, ensuring accuracy and compliance.
Patient Access Specialist
Integris Baptist Medical Center
07.2020 - 01.2022
- Registered patients across multiple service lines, ensuring efficient operations.
- Acted as liaison between patients, providers, and payers to resolve account issues.
Patient Access Service Representative
Erie County Medical Center
02.2020 - 07.2020
- Increased patient satisfaction by streamlining registration and insurance verification processes.
- Assessed financial needs to connect patients with appropriate assistance programs.
- Minimized data entry errors by meticulously updating patient demographic records.
- Boosted revenue collection by accurately processing co-payments and deductibles.
Patient Registration Specialist
Eastern Niagara Hospital
07.2018 - 02.2020
- Enhanced efficiency by streamlining patient registration processes for accurate data collection.
- Maintained smooth workflows by managing high-volume patient traffic during peak hours.
- Facilitated seamless transitions from registration to treatment through interdepartmental collaboration.
- Reduced financial discrepancies by verifying patient insurance eligibility promptly and accurately.
- Ensured regulatory compliance during patient intake and data management processes.
- Improved team performance by training new staff on registration protocols.
Medical Transcriptionist/Accts Receivables
Maxim Management
06.2001 - 10.2015
- Transcription for Western New York Urology physicians and ECMC University Orthopedic Services surgeons using Medent.
- Performed per diem accounts receivables duties including receiving and posting insurance and patient payments to patient accounts.
- Compiled, reconciled, and disbursed A/R reports.
Medical Biller/Accounts Receivable
Maxim Management
06.2000 - 06.2001
- Medical billing of third party payors and claims follow-up for a urology group using Medent.
- Compiled and reviewed weekly and monthly aging reports.
- Maintained verbal and written communications with patients and insurance representatives.
- Performed general office duties including but not limited to answering multi-line phones and filing.
Accounts Receivables Specialist
Western Niagara Physicians
06.1997 - 06.2000
- Performed A/R duties, received and posted to emergency room accounts monies received from patients and insurance companies in excess of $400,000.
- Generated and reconciled A/R reports for multiple emergency room physicians of two major local hospitals.
- Medical billing including entering charges and coding for emergency room physician services, submitted electronic patient claims using Medent.
- Performed claims review for aging reports, reviewing insurance denials/pending claims.
Administrative Assistant
Baker Victory Services
07.1992 - 06.1997
- Provided administrative support for various departments within the Comptroller's office including but not limited to greeting visitors and staff of various levels, filing, agency mail duties, and answering multi-line telephones.
- Inventoried, ordered, received, and distributed office supplies.
- Received and reconciled petty cash receipts and reports as well as compiled and distributed weekly petty cash reimbursement for twenty-four programs within the agency.
- Reviewed and compiled daily and monthly data for monthly State and Federal grant reimbursement.
- Developed and implemented a system for medical billing reducing agency expenditures; reviewed, processed, and billed health insurance claims for residential clients.
- Developed a more efficient system for keeping running inventory of stored records.
Administrative Assistant
Progressive Restaurants, Inc
01.1990 - 01.1991
- Provided administrative support to the Director of Operations, the Director of Marketing, and three District Managers, as well as the franchise owners.
- Completed special projects including meeting with radio sales representatives to schedule advertising and promotional campaigns.
- Scheduled and organized monthly managerial meetings.
- Reviewed and compiled daily and weekly sales reports.
- Other duties included preparation of correspondence, answering multi-line telephones, ordering office supplies, inter-company communications, and maintaining and updating employee records.
Accounts Receivable/Outpatient Account Representative
DeGraff Memorial Hospital
01.1987 - 07.1989
- Prepared invoices for health insurance companies and patients for hospital outpatient and therapy services.
- Daily verbal and written communications with patients and insurance representatives.
- Performed general office duties including filing, typing, and answering multi-line phones.
- Reviewed and worked weekly and monthly assigned aging reports.
Skills
- Leadership & Management: Team coaching, staff development, change management, performance metrics, conflict resolution
- Healthcare Operations: Patient registration, insurance verification, billing, compliance, Epic/Meditech/Medent/Cerner systems
- Strategic Impact: Process improvement, workflow redesign, patient experience optimization, cross-departmental collaboration
Certifications
CHAA – Certified Healthcare Access Associate
Timeline
Financial Counselor Team Lead - Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital
01.2024 - Current
Patient Access ED Supervisor - Lakewood Ranch Medical Center
05.2023 - 01.2024
Patient Access Specialist Sr/Lead - Integris Baptist Medical Center
09.2022 - 04.2023
Patient Financial Advocate - Integris Baptist Medical Center
01.2022 - 09.2022
Patient Access Specialist - Integris Baptist Medical Center
07.2020 - 01.2022
Patient Access Service Representative - Erie County Medical Center
02.2020 - 07.2020
Patient Registration Specialist - Eastern Niagara Hospital
07.2018 - 02.2020
Medical Transcriptionist - Independent Contractor
10.2015 - Current
Medical Transcriptionist/Accts Receivables - Maxim Management
06.2001 - 10.2015
Medical Biller/Accounts Receivable - Maxim Management
06.2000 - 06.2001
Accounts Receivables Specialist - Western Niagara Physicians
06.1997 - 06.2000
Administrative Assistant - Baker Victory Services
07.1992 - 06.1997
Administrative Assistant - Progressive Restaurants, Inc
01.1990 - 01.1991
Accounts Receivable/Outpatient Account Representative - DeGraff Memorial Hospital
01.1987 - 07.1989