- Cooking
- Hiking
- Enjoying the art of baking and pastry-making, experimenting with recipes
- Crafting and DIY Projects
- Acting and Theater
Joni Schiwitz
Abilene
Summary
Well-qualified professionalwith proven success in improving operations and solving problems. Highly proficient in building lasting relationships with key decision makers, customers, and team members to further company goals. Ready to leverage training and experience to take on new professional challenges.
Overview
21
21
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Director of Human Resources & Compliance Officer
Johnson City Eye Clinic & Surgery Center
2021.07 - 2023.10
- Streamlined onboarding processes, enhancing new employee experience and retention rates.
- Conducted performance evaluations, providing constructive feedback to improve staff performance.
- Facilitated employee training programs to promote professional development and compliance with regulations.
- Managed employee relations issues, fostering a positive workplace culture through conflict resolution strategies.
- Collaborated with management to align HR initiatives with organizational goals and objectives.
- Led diversity and inclusion initiatives, promoting an equitable work environment for all employees.
- Managed the onboarding process, providing new hires with necessary tools for success from day one.
- Conducted each phase of hiring process, encompassing employment verification, employee relations investigations, criminal background checks and onboarding.
- Maintained "open door" policy to encourage employee communications and resolution of issues.
- Coordinated and worked with management on performance evaluations, supervisory practices, dispute resolution, and employee accountability.
- Managed complex employee relations issues, reducing legal risks and maintaining a positive work environment.
- Maintained company compliance with local, state, and federal laws, in addition to established organizational standards.
- Ensured compliance with all relevant labor laws, protecting both employees' rights and the organization's interests.
- Increased employee engagement with open communication channels and regular feedback opportunities.
- Collaborated on hiring and training of new employees, professional growth of staff and team building and motivation.
- Conducted compliance audits to ensure adherence to regulatory standards and internal policies.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to address compliance-related issues proactively.
- Developed and implemented employee engagement initiatives to improve workplace culture.
- Conducted performance evaluations and facilitated feedback sessions to promote employee development.
Medical Coding and Billing Specialist
Johnson City Eye Surgery Center
2018.12 - 2021.07
- Processed medical claims accurately using advanced coding systems to ensure compliance with industry standards.
- Reviewed and corrected billing discrepancies, enhancing revenue cycle efficiency and accuracy in financial reporting.
- Collaborated with healthcare providers to obtain necessary documentation for proper coding and billing practices.
- Trained new staff on coding guidelines, improving team knowledge and overall departmental performance.
- Utilized electronic health record (EHR) systems for efficient management of patient data and billing information.
- Analyzed coding trends to identify areas for process improvement, driving operational excellence within the department.
- Provided exceptional customer service to patients, addressing their concerns regarding insurance claims or billing issues with empathy and professionalism.
- Maintained patient confidentiality by adhering to strict HIPAA regulations during all aspects of the coding and billing processes.
- Attained up-to-date knowledge of coding requirements through continuing education courses and certification renewal.
- Improved overall reporting quality by working closely with the clinical team to ensure accurate and complete documentation.
- Optimized revenue generation through diligent monitoring of denied claims, resubmitting corrected information when needed.
- Assisted in maintaining smooth office operations by managing essential administrative tasks such as recordkeeping and data entry.
- Contributed to team success by actively participating in staff meetings, offering insights into improving workflows.
- Utilized active listening, interpersonal, and telephone etiquette skills when communicating with others.
- Communicated with insurance companies to research and resolved coding discrepancies.
- Resourcefully used various coding books, procedure manuals, and on-line encoders.
- Reviewed patient charts to better understand health histories, diagnoses, and treatments.
- Interacted with physicians and other healthcare staff to ask questions regarding patient services.
- Scanned and uploaded medical records into electronic medical records system.
- Tracked and monitored requests for medical records release.
Patient Accounts Coordinator
Johnson City Eye Surgery Center
2012.09 - 2018.12
- Managed patient account inquiries, providing accurate information and resolving issues efficiently.
- Coordinated insurance verification processes, ensuring compliance with policy requirements and improving claim approvals.
- Streamlined billing procedures, enhancing accuracy of patient statements and reducing discrepancies.
- Collaborated with surgical team to optimize patient scheduling, minimizing delays and improving service delivery.
- Provided exceptional customer service while addressing complex billing questions from patients or their representatives over phone or email communications.
- Stayed current with industry regulations and changes, ensuring compliance in all aspects of patient account coordination.
- Maintained strict confidentiality when handling sensitive patient information, adhering to HIPAA guidelines at all times.
- Assisted in training new staff members on department procedures, contributing to a cohesive work environment.
- Prepared accurate and timely reports on account activity for management review, enabling informed decisionmaking.
- Negotiated payment arrangements with delinquent account holders, ultimately reducing bad debt write-offs for the organization.
- Assisted in the implementation of new software systems to improve efficiency and effectiveness within the department, resulting in a smoother workflow and increased productivity.
- Managed posting of payments and processing of refunds to ensure accurate financial records.
- Contacted patients after insurance was calculated to obtain payments.
- Responded to patient, family, and external payer inquiries.
- Utilized computer programs to create invoices, letters, and other documents.
- Prepared reports detailing billing actions, flags, and other key information.
- Monitored flags and resolved urgent items with accuracy and efficiency.
- Reconciled statements with patient records.
- Maintained accurate records of customer accounts, payments and payment plans.
- Monitored customer accounts for payment delinquency and initiated collection efforts.
- Contacted customers to discuss past-due accounts and negotiated payment plans.
- Processed debtor payments and updated accounts to reflect new balance.
- Analyzed customer financial records to determine appropriate payment plan.
- Generated and distributed monthly customer statements.
- Prepared and submitted legal documents to initiate court proceedings.
Perioperative Scheduling/Data Entry Clerk
Ballad Health, Johnson City Medical Center (Mountain States Health Alliance)
2011.07 - 2012.09
- Processed and entered patient data into electronic health record systems with high accuracy.
- Managed daily updates of medical records, ensuring compliance with healthcare regulations.
- Collaborated with clinical staff to verify information and resolve discrepancies in patient files.
- Trained new team members on data entry protocols and system navigation.
- Worked effectively in fast-paced environments.
- Skilled at working independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
- Proven ability to learn quickly and adapt to new situations.
- Worked well in a team setting, providing support and guidance.
- Coordinated surgical schedules to optimize patient flow and resource allocation.
- Liaised with surgeons, nurses, and administrative staff to ensure effective communication.
- Trained new staff on scheduling protocols and system navigation to improve team efficiency.
Patient Access Representative, II
Ballad Health, Johnson City Medical Center (Mountain States Health Alliance)
2007.06 - 2011.07
- Facilitated patient registration and appointment scheduling for diverse healthcare services.
- Managed insurance verification processes to ensure accurate billing and coverage information.
- Provided exceptional customer service, addressing inquiries and resolving issues promptly.
- Collaborated with clinical staff to streamline patient flow and enhance operational efficiency.
- Trained new staff on registration protocols, enhancing team competency and service delivery.
- Trained new hires on department procedures, policies, and software systems, ensuring consistent quality service delivery from all team members.
- Enhanced patient experience, ensuring welcoming environment from first point of contact.
- Led initiatives to improve patient satisfaction scores through effective communication strategies.
- Ensured compliance with HIPAA regulations to maintain confidentiality of sensitive patient information during all interactions.
- Maintained accurate patient records, contributing to a well-organized database for seamless information access across departments.
- Adapted quickly to changing demands within the healthcare environment, demonstrating flexibility and a strong commitment to quality patient care.
- Provided excellent customer service through active listening skills, understanding patient needs, and offering tailored solutions where applicable.
- Managed challenging situations effectively by remaining calm under pressure while resolving conflicts or addressing dissatisfied patients professionally.
Medical Data Entry Clerk
Mountain Empire Radiology
2004.03 - 2007.06
- Managed accurate data entry into electronic health record systems, ensuring compliance with industry standards.
- Managed posting of insurance and patient payments to ensure accurate financial records.
- Processed large volumes of information efficiently, ensuring timely updates to records.
- Followed established procedures to enter and process data correctly.
- Scanned documents and saved in database to keep records of essential organizational information.
- Enhanced data accuracy by meticulously reviewing and correcting errors in spreadsheets and databases.
- Expedited data entry tasks through the use of keyboard shortcuts and customized software tools.
Store Team Member/Food Service Worker
Target
2002.08 - 2004.06
- Provided exceptional customer service, addressing inquiries and resolving issues efficiently.
- Maintained store standards by organizing merchandise and ensuring clean, safe shopping environments.
- Trained new staff on operational procedures and customer engagement best practices.
- Operated point-of-sale system efficiently to process transactions accurately.
- Delivered exceptional customer service in fast-paced dining environment.
- Maintained cleanliness and organization of dining area to enhance guest experience.
- Prepared and cooked a variety of menu items efficiently during high-volume service periods.
- Maintained cleanliness and organization of kitchen stations to ensure compliance with health and safety standards.
- Implemented inventory management practices to minimize waste and control food costs effectively.
- Demonstrated flexibility in handling multiple orders simultaneously while maintaining attention to detail for each item prepared.
Education
No Degree -
East Tennessee State University
Johnson City2005-05
High School Diploma -
Science Hill High School
Johnson City, TN2004-05
Skills
- Compliance management
- Records management
- Employee relations
- Internal communications
- Attention to detail
- Independent worker
- Customer Service-oriented
- Problem-solving
- Office administration
- Maintains confidentiality
- Administrative support
- Computer proficiency
Certification
- CPC - Certified Professional Coder
- CRC - Certified Risk Adjustment Coder
Interests
Timeline
Director of Human Resources & Compliance Officer
Johnson City Eye Clinic & Surgery Center
2021.07 - 2023.10
Medical Coding and Billing Specialist
Johnson City Eye Surgery Center
2018.12 - 2021.07
Patient Accounts Coordinator
Johnson City Eye Surgery Center
2012.09 - 2018.12
Perioperative Scheduling/Data Entry Clerk
Ballad Health, Johnson City Medical Center (Mountain States Health Alliance)
2011.07 - 2012.09
Patient Access Representative, II
Ballad Health, Johnson City Medical Center (Mountain States Health Alliance)
2007.06 - 2011.07
Medical Data Entry Clerk
Mountain Empire Radiology
2004.03 - 2007.06
Store Team Member/Food Service Worker
Target
2002.08 - 2004.06
No Degree -
East Tennessee State University
High School Diploma -
Science Hill High School