Latonya Cates
Augusta,GA
Summary
Dynamic Patient Access Supervisor with two years of experience overseeing a team of 100 across 43 clinic locations. Proficient in optimizing patient registration processes and enhancing revenue cycle performance while leading high-performing teams. Focused on providing outstanding patient experiences and ensuring adherence to regulatory and operational standards. I am adept at promoting team collaboration, streamlining workflows, and maintaining healthcare quality standards. Committed to improving patient satisfaction and driving organizational success through effective leadership and strategic initiatives.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Supervisor of Patient Access
WellStar MCG Health
01.2023 - Current
- Trained and mentored new employees in registration department, answered questions and provided insight on patient services.
- Observed all facility rules and regulations regarding patient data to promote confidentiality and integrity.
- Educated all registration staff personnel regarding updates and changes to job positions.
- Conducted regular performance evaluations of team members, identifying areas for improvement and providing constructive feedback for professional growth.
- Collaborated with clinical teams to ensure seamless patient transitions between departments, improving overall care quality.
- Recruited, hired and trained all staff, providing direct supervision, ongoing staff development and continuing education to employees.
Lead Registration Specialist
Augusta University Medical Center
01.2022 - 01.2023
- Cross-training and providing coverages for all front office positions when short-staffed, or as needed. Communicating to management on patient flow issues and providing recommendations on how to improve performance. Communicating directly and regularly with front office staff on all issues, including direction from management and providers.
Performed other duties as assigned by management. - Maintained confidentiality of sensitive patient information adhering to HIPAA guidelines.
- Assisted in training new Registration Specialists, sharing best practices and helping them become proficient in their roles.
- Served as a point of contact for leadership to ensure staff and clinics are staffed adequately.
Scheduler
Augusta University Medical Center
02.2020 - 01.2021
- Managed patient flow and reduced wait times through effective scheduling practices.
- Developed and maintained scheduling templates to enhance efficiency across clinical operations.
- Collaborated with healthcare teams to adjust schedules based on patient needs
- Scheduled all outside and internal referrals for Reproductive Infertility and Endocrinology services. Handle heavy phone volumes, providing appropriate telephone etiquette and scripting. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to effectively obtain required minimum data set from patients, their representatives and/or physician offices; obtains verifies and updates demographic and insurance information, accurately completing scheduling questionnaires.
Registration Specialist
Augusta University Medical Center
06.2013 - 01.2021
- Managed patient registration processes to ensure accuracy and compliance with healthcare regulations.
- Utilized electronic health record (EHR) systems for data entry and retrieval of patient information.
- Collaborated with clinical staff to streamline registration workflows and enhance patient experience.
- Processed insurance verifications, eligibility and benefits with payers. Responded to customer inquiries in a professional, pleasant and efficient manner. Provided support in scheduling patient appointments. Assisted in resolving billing and account issues. Verified patient demographic information to ensure accuracy. Managed patient accounts and processed payments. Corrected patient status and updated accounts as needed. Accurately entered data into the patient database. Provide administrative support and other duties as needed.
Lead Health Service Technician
East Central Regional Hospital
06.2005 - 06.2013
- Oversee the Health Service Technicians and ensuring adherence to each client's behavior support plan.
- Guarantee that all individuals are treated with dignity and respect while complying with relevant rules and regulations promptly.
- Ensure that every staff member accurately documents their actions regarding each individual throughout the 8-hour shift. Daily adjustments to staff scheduling enhance the unit's workflow.
- Ensure that my team prioritizes safety and well-being. Collaborate closely with leadership to uphold safety standards and ensure compliance with state regulations.
- Oversee staff schedules and training schedules to adhere to state regulations
Education
No Degree - Education
Fort Valley State University
Fort Valley, GARequired
Hephzibah High School
Hephzibah, GA06-1993
Skills
- Effective written and verbal communication
- HIPAA compliance
- Effective problem solving
- Team management
- Insurance verification
- Strong leadership
- New staff training
- Teamwork
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Customer service
- Problem-solving
- Time management
- Attention to detail
- Multitasking
- Problem-solving abilities
- Excellent communication
- Critical thinking
- Organizational skills
- Reliability
- Patient safety
- Adaptability and flexibility
- Verbal and written communication
- Decision-making
- Training and mentoring
- Employee supervision
- Interpersonal skills
- Conflict resolution
- Professionalism
- Employee work scheduling
- Employee performance evaluations
Certification
Certified Revenue Cycle Representative
Timeline
Supervisor of Patient Access
WellStar MCG Health
01.2023 - Current
Lead Registration Specialist
Augusta University Medical Center
01.2022 - 01.2023
Scheduler
Augusta University Medical Center
02.2020 - 01.2021
Registration Specialist
Augusta University Medical Center
06.2013 - 01.2021
Lead Health Service Technician
East Central Regional Hospital
06.2005 - 06.2013
No Degree - Education
Fort Valley State University
Required
Hephzibah High School
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