Justin Blackburn
Los Angeles,CA
Summary
Healthcare leader with more than 20 years of experience improving healthcare operations through technology, analytics, and process improvement. Experienced in health information management, EHR strategy, revenue cycle, and behavioral health operations, with a track record of leading cross-functional initiatives that improve performance and support better decision-making. Currently lead the Health Information & Analytics department for a $50 million nonprofit behavioral health organization, bringing together EHR, Revenue Cycle, and Data Engineering & Analytics under one department. Enjoy working across teams to solve operational challenges, improve workflows, and turn data into practical solutions. Interested in helping healthcare organizations modernize the way they work by combining operational knowledge, technology, analytics, and emerging AI tools.
Overview
1
1
Certification
14
14
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Director, Health Information and Analytics
Hillsides
07.2024 - Current
- Lead the Health Information & Analytics department for a $50 million nonprofit behavioral healthcare organization serving approximately 13,00 family members each year. Oversee Revenue Cycle, EHR, and Data Engineering & Analytics while leading a team of 10 employees, including the Director of Revenue Cycle and the Director of Data Engineering & Analytics.
- Created the Health Information & Analytics department by bringing Revenue Cycle, EHR, and Data Engineering & Analytics into one department, improving collaboration across teams and giving leadership a more complete picture of organizational performance.
- Oversee the organization’s EHR, including system configuration, workflow design, interfaces, vendor management, and long-term planning. Played a key role in two enterprise EHR implementations supporting approximately 150 users.
- Designed executive dashboards for LACDMH utilization, client census, productivity, revenue cycle, and organizational performance, giving leadership timely information to support operational and financial decisions.
- Led the redesign of the client admission workflow by working with Intake, Programs, Quality Assurance, Revenue Cycle, and Data & Analytics to improve communication, data quality, and the overall client onboarding process.
- Partner with organizational leadership on AI initiatives within the EHR to identify opportunities to improve documentation, workflows, and operational efficiency.
- Maintain accounts receivable below 1% by improving revenue cycle workflows, monitoring performance, and working closely with program and finance leaders.
- Serve on the organization’s three-member Performance and Quality Improvement (PQI) Committee and help prepare the annual PQI report presented to the Board of Directors.
- Regularly present to executive leadership, the Board of Directors, auditors, and accreditation teams on organizational performance, quality improvement, strategic initiatives, and technology projects.
- Oversee departmental budgets and manage the organization’s relationship with its EHR vendor.
Senior Director, Billing and Contracts
Hillsides
04.2014 - 06.2024
- Directed all aspects of behavioral health billing and contract management for county, commercial, and residential programs while working closely with executive leadership to improve financial performance and operational efficiency.
- Managed Los Angles County Department of Mental Health contract utilization, cost reports, and negotiation packages.
- Developed billing workflows for Kaiser Residential and Wraparound programs that improved reimbursement and strengthened revenue oversight.
- Built processes between Billing and Intake to improve eligibility verification, reduce claim denials, and increase cash flow.
- Worked with program leadership to monitor contract utilization, financial performance, and funding targets.
- Developed departmental policies, procedures, and reporting processes that standardized operations and improved consistency.
Billing Specialist
Jewish Family Service of Los Angeles
04.2012 - 03.2014
- Developed reconciliation processes to improve charge capture and billing accuracy.
- Created a contract utilization tracking system that gave leadership better visibility into funding and program performance.
- Worked with clinical staff to resolve billing issues, improve documentation, and maximize reimbursement.
Education
Master of Public Health (MPH) - Health Services and Policy
University of Southern California (USC)
Bachelor of Science - Health Information Management (BSHIM)
Western Governors University
Skills
- Collaborative leadership
- Key performance indicators
- Organizational development
- Data analytics
- Stakeholder relations
- Practice operations management
- Reporting expertise
- Administrative oversight
- Innovation management
- Strategic planning
- Verbal and written communication
- Decision-making
- Process improvement
- Project management
- Budget management
- Contract and vendor management
- Strategies and goals
Certification
CompTIA Project+
BOARD EXPERIENCE
Board Member, REACHLA — 2024 – 2025
TECHNOLOGY & ANALYTICS
- EHR Platforms: Welligent, CollaborateMD, CareLogic
- Analytics & Reporting: Power BI, Executive Dashboards, KPI Development, Data Visualization
- Healthcare Operations: Medi-Cal, LACDMH Systems, Claims Management, Utilization Management, Revenue Cycle Optimization
Timeline
Senior Director, Health Information and Analytics
Hillsides
07.2024 - Current
Senior Director, Billing and Contracts
Hillsides
04.2014 - 06.2024
Billing Specialist
Jewish Family Service of Los Angeles
04.2012 - 03.2014
Bachelor of Science - Health Information Management (BSHIM)
Western Governors University
Master of Public Health (MPH) - Health Services and Policy
University of Southern California (USC)