Debra Weller
Thomasville,USA
Summary
Dynamic Health Information Management leader with extensive experience at Archbold Memorial Hospital, excelling in EHR implementation and revenue cycle management. Proven track record in achieving JC Certification with commendation and reducing DNFB. Skilled in clinical documentation improvement and fostering a culture of compliance and education among staff.
Overview
30
30
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Director of Health Information Management
Archbold Memorial Hospital
11.2019 - Current
- Responsible for Coding of all patient types for main Thomasville Hospital and 3 other system hospitals.
- Responsible for all release of information for all patients included physician practices owned by Archbold.
- Maintains operations to provide accurate tracking of incomplete/delinquent records.
- Responsible for maintaining statistics used in physician record completion program.
- Maintains current working knowledge of all applicable standards and regulatory requirements.
- Responsible for Medical Record / Health Information Management Forms Committee functions.
- Monitors department activities to ensure compliance with The Joint Commission.
- Responsible for developing, maintaining and monitoring capital and operational budgets for department.
- Provides for staff recruitment, selection, training, supervision, evaluation and disciplinary actions Currently all staff is employed by Archbold with no contract staff.
- Responsible for demonstrating and ensuring high levels of customer service for all internal & external customers.
- Responsible for assisting Compliance Officer with HIPAA related privacy matters, investigation and reporting of privacy breeches.
- Responsible for record storage and compliance with record retention guidelines for all facility records. Extensive oversight of data warehouse.
- Management of DNFB for coding.
Director of Health Information Management and Facility Privacy Officer
Bay Medical Center Sacred Heart
09.2015 - 11.2019
- Responsible for ICD-9-CM / ICD-10-CM & CPT-4 coding accuracy and standards.
- Responsible for all recordkeeping functions, systems, and release of information for all inpatients, outpatient, ER patients and Physician owned practices.
- Maintains operations to provide accurate tracking of incomplete medical records.
- Responsible for maintaining statistics used in physician record completion program.
- Provides for legally complete medical records as dictated by all regulatory bodies and Risk Management.
- Maintains current working knowledge of all applicable standards and regulatory requirements.
- Responsible for Medical Record / Health Information Management Forms Committee functions.
- Monitors department activities to ensure compliance with The Joint Commission.
- Responsible for developing, maintaining and monitoring capital and operational budgets for department.
- Provides for staff recruitment, selection, training, supervision, evaluation and disciplinary actions.
- Responsible for demonstrating and ensuring high levels of customer service for all internal & external customers.
- Responsible for HIPAA related privacy matters, investigation and reporting of privacy breeches.
- Responsible for record storage and compliance with record retention guidelines for all facility records.
- Management of Clinical Documentation Improvement.
Director, Health Information Management Department and Co- FPO
Citrus Memorial Health System/Parallon
08.2007 - 09.2015
- Responsible for Management of H.I.M. Department with staff of 24 including 2 Supervisors
- Responsible for development and implementation of privacy and confidentiality policies of patient health information including EHR.
- Leader of Unbilled Improvement Team- monitor and manage unbilled accounts.
- Leader of Communications Team for Pursuit of Excellence initiatives
- Ensures compliance with regulatory standards for CMS, HIPAA and JC
- Revenue Cycle improvement initiatives includes collaboration with Case Mgmt., Billing, and Patient Access/Registration to improve coding/billing processes. Established/facilitated multidisciplinary team to address and resolve issues.
Billing Manager
Medical Group of North Florida
10.2004 - 08.2007
- Responsible for managing insurance billing for large physician practice consisting of 12 multi-specialty physicians with 7 ARNPs.
- Responsible for charge billing, remit posting and coding for reimbursement.
- Manages A/R for all insurances and billing error resolution.
- Assists with insurance contract negotiation and physician credentialing.
- Serves as Privacy Officer for the practice to ensure compliance with privacy regulations.
- Developed privacy policies and billing compliance policies.
Director of Health Information Management
Capital Regional Medical Center (formerly Tallahassee Community Hospital)
Tallahassee, Florida
06.1997 - 10.2004
- Responsible for managing Health Information Management Services Department consisting of 17 employees.
- Development and implementation of policies and procedures for all departmental functions and regulatory compliance (i.e. JC, CMS and AHCA). Assists in budget development.
- Responsible for ICD-9-CM and CPT Coding for reimbursement and extensive involvement in revenue cycle for bill error resolution as it relates to coding and charges.
- Responsible for development and implementation of departmental Performance Improvement process.
- Responsible for assessment/development of current procedures, policies, documents and processes in regards to JC preparedness.
- Implemented procedures/policies and developed documents for JC compliance.
- Achieved JC Certification with commendation with no recommendations for HIM Department.
Director of Health Information Management
Columbia University General Hospital
Seminole, Florida
04.1995 - 03.1997
- Provided supervision and leadership for the Health Information Management Departments for three hospitals in the Largo/Seminole area.
- Supervision of 12 employees including 1 Manager, 1 Supervisor, and 10 staff employees.
- Responsible for development and implementation of departmental Quality Improvement program and budget. Provided analytical reports on Medicare case mix to C.F.O. and was responsible for analyzing and submitting hospital data to regulatory agencies.
- Monitoring of coding compliance via review of ICD-9-CM code assignment.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Health Information Management
University of Central Florida
Orlando, Florida01.1988
Associate of Arts -
University of South Florida
Tampa, Florida01.1986
Skills
- Experienced in EHR systems use and implementation including Paragon/Horizon Patient Folder and Cerner Millennium
- Experience in Revenue Cycle management and successful DNFB reduction as Lead for Unbilled Reduction Team Member of Rev Cycle Committee and Denials Team
- Experience in Clinical Documentation Improvement including physician education
- Facility Privacy Officer with experience in HIPAA education for new staff members
- Clinical Documentation Improvement staff management
Certification
- Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA)
- AHIMA Certified Healthcare Technology Specialist-Project Manager (CHTS-PM) - IT competency in assessing workflows, software/hardware selection, install and testing of systems, training of staff for EHR implementation.
Accomplishments
- Improved physician delinquent chart rate at Archbold from > 1100 delinquent to 250 delinquents within a 10- month period.
- Implementation of Coding Audit process and Coding Accuracy improvement plan to include Coder education.
- Managed staff through COVID pandemic to include redeployment, work from home, and enforcement of masking and safety requirements.
- Elimination of transcription services for all providers and services resulting in significant cost savings.
- Reinstated medical record review process to monitor documentation quality.
- Promotion of education for all staff through Hometown Health.
Timeline
Director of Health Information Management
Archbold Memorial Hospital
11.2019 - Current
Director of Health Information Management and Facility Privacy Officer
Bay Medical Center Sacred Heart
09.2015 - 11.2019
Director, Health Information Management Department and Co- FPO
Citrus Memorial Health System/Parallon
08.2007 - 09.2015
Billing Manager
Medical Group of North Florida
10.2004 - 08.2007
Director of Health Information Management
Capital Regional Medical Center (formerly Tallahassee Community Hospital)
06.1997 - 10.2004
Director of Health Information Management
Columbia University General Hospital
04.1995 - 03.1997
Bachelor of Science - Health Information Management
University of Central Florida
Associate of Arts -
University of South Florida
Similar Profiles
Tiffany SwilleyTiffany Swilley
License Physical Therapist Assistant/Rehab Manager at Archbold Memorial HospitalLicense Physical Therapist Assistant/Rehab Manager at Archbold Memorial Hospital
Shanneshia ReeseShanneshia Reese
Certified Nursing Assistant at Archbold Memorial HospitalCertified Nursing Assistant at Archbold Memorial Hospital
Brooke StanleyBrooke Stanley
Registered Nurse, Intensive Care Unit at Archbold Memorial HospitalRegistered Nurse, Intensive Care Unit at Archbold Memorial Hospital
Candace W. FuntCandace W. Funt
Teaching Assistant at BROOKWOOD SCHOOLTeaching Assistant at BROOKWOOD SCHOOL
Randy EvansRandy Evans
Janitorial Worker at Perfect Building ManagementJanitorial Worker at Perfect Building Management