Estella M. Matheu
Brookhaven,GA
Summary
Accomplished executive offering expertise delivering astute strategic leadership, and proven record of achievement creating and developing new efficiency strategies and quality control process improvement plans that secure significant and measurable enhancement of patient experience, cost-efficiency, and revenue growth. Experience encompasses working within the healthcare industry and includes successful launch of care facilities, and specialist health and medical programs. Solid understanding of tactics, strategies and growth to optimize physician/patient satisfaction, revenue/profit, and compliance. Demonstrated capacity to facilitate meaningful and positive relationships with leaders, physicians and team members to address current and future healthcare challenges. Seasoned Executive Director with significant expertise in strategic planning, operational management, and team leadership. Demonstrated ability to drive growth via innovative solutions and proactive leadership style. Strengths include strong interpersonal skills, financial acumen, and commitment to fostering positive organizational culture. Notable impact includes turning around underperforming departments and implementing effective strategies for long-term success.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
Work History
Executive Director / CEO, Atlanta Facilities
Advanced Recovery Systems
Atlanta, GA
05.2023 - Current
- Hired, trained, and mentored facility directors of new facilities (Medical Directors, Clinical Directors, Directors of Nursing) to facilitate quality care, maximize productivity, and enhance company profitability.
- Managed the organization's financial resources, and presented weekly updates and monthly financials.
- Maintained operational and staffing costs below budget to maximize profitability while increasing the quality of services and care for our patients.
- Exceeded EBITDA by 130% in year 2 of operations, with a substancial profit.
- Created a collaborative environment that fosters innovation and encourages employee engagement.
- Provided organizational leadership and collaborated with executive partners to establish long-term goals, implementation of new technology, process improvement strategies and company policies.
- Ensured compliance with federal and state regulations related to patient safety and healthcare practices.
- Assessed foodservice operations within healthcare facilities to ensure compliance with regulations related to sanitation, safety, quality control, and nutritional standards.
- Maintained up-to-date knowledge of applicable laws and regulations related to healthcare delivery including HIPAA compliance standards.
- Participated in meetings with physicians and other healthcare providers regarding UR and billing compliance standards.
Practice Administrator, Multisite
THE RETINA PARTNERS
Los Angeles
10.2019 - Current
- Oversee and direct the staffing and personnel (43 FTES) as well as daily and strategic operations of five clinical treatment retina ophthalmology outpatient facilities, a clinical research department, and a billing department with six retinal ophthalmology surgeons to ensure the delivery of the best quality care for our patients and their vision
- Full human resource management (hiring, staffing, performance and benefits management), regulatory compliance (OSHA, MIPS, CLIA, COVID compliance), operations management (operations efficiency, process improvements, clinical ops, facilities management and expansions, business licensing, business insurance and healthcare network contracting, marketing, budgeting, P&L and financial management)
- Built Leadership structure for company growth and distribution of responsibilities
- Hired Director of Clinical Research, Billing Manager, Office Manager, Marketing Coordinator, and Lead Clinical Tech
- Facilitated growth of Clinical Research Department from 3 Trials to 29 Trials, coordinating services with main clinical treatment facility for treatment and physician evaluations of study patients
- Upgraded Payroll System to Paychex Flex, added EASE software for employee benefits, added dental plan, vision plan, Cobra, and company 401K
- Guided company operationally and financially through Covid-19
- Reduced patient volume to allow for implementation of safety measures while maintaining company revenue with Zero layoffs
- Increased revenue with Clinical Trials and applied for company PPE, PPP Loan and Provider Relief Fund
- Filled out forgiveness applications and achieved funding
- Project Managed new clinic buildout for expansion of new Valencia office, working with architect, broker, and construction company to select building materials and planning, licensing, permits, leasing, cabling, furniture, technology, and medical equipment and supply moves
- Moved offices over an extended weekend to prevent further loss of clinic days/revenue
- Closed a clinic in Century City and opened another in Culver City for better footprint in area with bigger referral base
- Collaborated with Internet Company, Marketing Coordinator, Physicians and Clinical Research Director for website update and relaunch
- Increased patient satisfaction and increased Yelp/Google Reviews by addressing patient complaints and getting software that would ask for patient feedback
- Reviews for all locations now range from 4.5 to 5 STARS
- Achieved full quality and performance measure points on MIPS scores for 3 years in a row for Medicare yearly pay increases
- Compared Merchant Card Services for decrease in company cost of 10K per year
- Changed Company drug purchasing credit cards to a 2% cash back card on intravitreal drug purchases
- Did supply cost comparisons for 15% decrease in supply costs across the board at all facilities
Executive Director
NEW VISTA BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
Malibu/Los Angeles
02.2017 - 07.2018
- Played a key strategic leadership role steering the creation and development of five new facilities that included a sub-acute mental health residential impatient, PHP and IOP programs
- Led the recruitment of high-caliber medical and administrative staff including Detox MDs, Psychiatrists, Clinical and Operational Directors, and Nurses
- Defined, developed, and established policies and procedures, and reporting systems in full alignment with regulatory requirements
- Formulated FTE and Operations budgets, expertly optimizing services while delivering cost efficiency in resources utilization, and reducing overtime by 20%, along with negotiating vendor contracts that secured a 30% reduction in vendor costs
- Successfully prepared, passed and secured initial facility Joint Commission Accreditation for quality care and environmental safety standards, along with passing DSS and DHCS inspections with zero deficiencies
- Conducted patient screening for admission, and appropriate treatment and level of care
- Instituted strategies and initiatives to drive continuous care quality improvement to reduce ATAs and increase patient retention from 75% to 92%
- Significantly improved patient documentation management to ensure compliance with insurance requirements, resulting in a 40% increase in patient billing
- Worked in close collaboration with Marketing Director on the development of marketing strategy for the launch of Open House of Avalon Integrative Wellness and Intensive Outpatient facility
- Implemented structures and processes to ensure continuous improvement such as facilitating weekly management and clinical meetings to identify improvement opportunities, including in the areas of clinical continuity, communication, and collaboration
- Established new toxicology lab procedures and new medical records software system
Director of Operations, Residential Services
PROMISES TREATMENT CENTERS
MALIBU
01.2013 - 01.2017
- Steered daily operations of substance abuse and mental illness residential treatment facility comprising of 6 houses
- Managed all aspect of recruitment including interviewing, and selection of clinical and administrative management personnel and support staff, and directly managed a team of 5 managers, guiding 24/7 operations
- Drove consistency in the delivery of high-quality patient-centric care through astute management of Operations, Chefs, Housekeeping, and Ancillary Providers to ensure sustainable increases in patient satisfaction and safety
- Facilitated close collaboration with clinical psychiatry, psychology teams, nursing and MDs to assess client physical, detox, mental health, and residential treatment needs
- Managed and accurately maintained payroll, and staff resources to ensure optimal staffing levels and productivity, while minimizing overtime
- Implemented strategies and initiatives to improve staff moral and retention including introducing a staff recognition program and creating staff promotion guidelines
- Directed all aspects of licensing, and certification, together with regulatory compliance, including development and updating of company policies and procedures in preparation for JCAHO inspection
Laboratory Supervisor, Anatomic Pathology & Laboratory Medicine
CEDARS SINAI MEDICAL CENTER
01.2010 - 01.2013
- Provided astute management of operations and staffing for large Multi-Disciplinary Anatomic Pathology department (dermpath, hematopathology, neuropath, pulmonary path, uropathy, ob/gyn cytology, EM, IF, and Autopsy Services)
- Managed recruitment of laboratory, technical, and administrative support staff, and defined, developed and implemented administrative and laboratory operational procedures
- Coordinated and facilitate collaboration with hospital surgery team to support the successful launch of Inter-Operative Consultation (IOC) Room for frozen section result, enabling rapid diagnosis while patient still under anesthesia
- Played a key role acting as liaison with clinical Outreach Sales and Marketing, and Admissions/Registration and Billing to effectively resolve client issues and determine process improvements
- Applied astute project management skills to work with EIS, Netcom, Architect, movers, and construction crew on the planning and management of the relocation of 24 physicians, 10 administrative staff and equipment to a different building to accommodate laboratory renovation, with minimal impact on operations
- Successfully steered the launch and management of Aperio project, a cutting-edge specimen slide scanning software program for e-pathology
- Led preparation for CAP (College of American Pathology) laboratory inspection, successfully passing with zero deficiencies
Business Manager - Anatomic Pathology
EMORY UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL
Atlanta, GA
01.2004 - 01.2010
- Supported and collaborated on the research and writing of business proposal for new Emory School of Professional Medical Technology
- Increased efficiency of operations, waste reduction, and staff utilization through the implementation of Lean processes
- Drove increases in revenue by implementing processes to reduce charge lag and ensure CPT and ICD-9 charges were coded within 1 day
Outpatient Manager
EMORY, WESLEY WOODS OUTPATIENT HOSPITAL
Atlanta, GA
01.2001 - 01.2004
- Managed daily operations of geriatric outpatient subspecialty hospital (3 GPs as well as Urologist, Cardiologist, Orthopedic Specialist, and Psychiatrist)
- Hired, staffed and supervised nursing (RNs and Medical Assistants) and support staff for increased productivity and customer service
- Resolved employee conflicts and followed through on emergency complicated customer service issues to assure a healthy working environment focused strongly on customer and patient care
- Formulated policies and procedures and managed nursing staff up to date licensing and certifications
- Created a Clinical Time Management Program that monitor and make the hospital and seven subspecialty physician schedules more efficient and reduced patient waiting time
- Evaluated staff scheduling for efficient customer phone care response, triage, and scheduling to allow for fewer gaps in clinical schedules and overbookings and scheduling errors, while increasing phone and customer service response
- Managed employee payroll and time off requests to assure proper staffing, productivity and minimal overtime
- Organized, prepared, and passed JCAHO (Joint Commission) inspection
Internship - Acquired Brain Injury Unit
THE SHEPHERD CENTER
Atlanta, GA
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Biological & Psychological Studies, Counseling, Cognition, and Industrial/Organizational Psychology
Agnes Scott College
Decatur, GA12.2004
Skills
- Customer/Patient Experience
- Project Management
- New facility startup/launch
- Operations Management
- Regulatory Compliance Oversight
- Accreditation Maintenance/Acquisition
- Continuous Quality Improvement
- EMR Software Proficiency
- Talent recruitment and retention
- Team Leadership
- Staff Training
- Data Analysis/Reporting
- Vendor Relations
- Contract negotiation
- Growth management
- Business planning
- Human resources
- Budgeting and financial management
- Business administration
- Profit and loss statements
Timeline
Executive Director / CEO, Atlanta Facilities
Advanced Recovery Systems
05.2023 - Current
Practice Administrator, Multisite
THE RETINA PARTNERS
10.2019 - Current
Executive Director
NEW VISTA BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
02.2017 - 07.2018
Director of Operations, Residential Services
PROMISES TREATMENT CENTERS
01.2013 - 01.2017
Laboratory Supervisor, Anatomic Pathology & Laboratory Medicine
CEDARS SINAI MEDICAL CENTER
01.2010 - 01.2013
Business Manager - Anatomic Pathology
EMORY UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL
01.2004 - 01.2010
Outpatient Manager
EMORY, WESLEY WOODS OUTPATIENT HOSPITAL
01.2001 - 01.2004
Internship - Acquired Brain Injury Unit
THE SHEPHERD CENTER
Bachelor of Arts - Biological & Psychological Studies, Counseling, Cognition, and Industrial/Organizational Psychology
Agnes Scott College
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