SARAH SCHUSTER
Erie,PA
Summary
Dynamic Registered Nurse with 12+ years of progressive experience across outpatient, surgical, long-term care, and inpatient settings. Strong foundation in medical billing, coding, prior authorizations, and documentation accuracy. Known for collaborating with surgeons, providers, and insurance companies to ensure compliant, complete, and clinically supported documentation. EPIC Super User with deep knowledge of diagnosis codes, co-morbidities, and clinical workflows. Seeking to leverage extensive documentation review experience in a Clinical Documentation Improvement role.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Brevillier Village
Erie, PA
Travel Registered Nurse
10.2022 - Current
- Deliver high-level clinical care in diverse hospital environments with rapid adaptation to new documentation systems.
- Maintain precise, compliant patient documentation across multiple EMR platforms.
- Collaborate with clinical teams to ensure accurate reflection of patient status, interventions, and outcomes.
Operating Room Registered Nurse
UPMC Hamot
Erie, PA
05.2020 - 10.2022
- Provided perioperative nursing care across multiple surgical specialties, ensuring accurate documentation of intraoperative events.
- Collaborated with surgeons, anesthesia, and multidisciplinary teams to maintain safe, compliant patient care.
- Promoted to DaVinci Robotic Coordinator, overseeing robotic system operations and workflow efficiency.
- Participated in documentation review and clinical evaluation to support quality and compliance initiatives.
- Ensured EMR entries met regulatory and organizational standards for clarity and completeness.
Registered Nurse / Charge Nurse
05.2019 - 07.2022
- Served as charge nurse overseeing three skilled nursing units, ensuring safe, coordinated care for complex patient populations.
- Supervised nursing staff and ensured adherence to clinical and documentation standards.
- Conducted assessments, medication administration, care planning, and interdisciplinary communication.
- Ensured accurate documentation for chronic conditions, co-morbidities, and changes in patient status.
- Collaborated with physicians, therapists, and families to support care transitions and regulatory compliance.
Traveling Medical Assistant / OR Scheduler / Prior Authorization Specialist / EPIC Super User
UPMC Hamot Bariatric Surgery
Erie, PA
05.2012 - 05.2018
- Supported bariatric surgical teams across multiple facilities with clinical and administrative functions.
- Scheduled operating room procedures and coordinated with surgeons and clinical staff.
- Completed prior authorizations for surgeries and medications, ensuring correct diagnosis codes and documentation.
- Tracked patient progress to ensure all clinical criteria were met for surgical approval.
- Served as an EPIC Super User, training staff and improving documentation workflows.
- Verified coding accuracy for bariatric procedures to support billing integrity.
Medical Assistant / Medical Billing & Coding Specialist / Prior Authorization Specialist
UPMC Harborcreek Family Physicians
Erie, PA
05.2010 - 05.2012
- Supported providers with patient intake, clinical tasks, and documentation.
- Performed medical billing and coding with emphasis on accuracy and compliance.
- Processed prior authorizations for medications and diagnostic testing.
- Built foundational expertise in ICD-10, co-morbidities, and documentation requirements.
Education
Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) -
Mercyhurst University
Medical Billing & Coding Certificate - undefined
Great Lakes Institute of Technology
Skills
- Clinical Documentation Review
- ICD-10, CPT, Diagnosis Codes & Co-Morbidities
- EMR/EHR Expertise (EPIC Super User)
- Prior Authorization & Insurance Criteria
- Chart Auditing & Compliance
- Surgical & Perioperative Workflow Knowledge
- Skilled Nursing & Long-Term Care Documentation
- Provider Collaboration & Communication
- Documentation Gap Identification
- Complex medical terminology
- Patient care assessment
- Diagnostic test ordering
- Diagnostic test evaluations
Certification
- Billing & Coding Courses
- Medical Terminology
- Health Record Administration
- EMR Training
- HIPAA
- Diagnosis Codes & Co-Morbidities
- EPIC Super User Training
ADDITIONAL STRENGTHS
- Deep understanding of UPMC workflows and documentation standards
- Strong ability to identify documentation gaps and clarify clinical details
- Proven history of advancement and adaptability
- Experience bridging clinical and administrative teams
Timeline
Travel Registered Nurse
10.2022 - Current
Operating Room Registered Nurse
UPMC Hamot
05.2020 - 10.2022
Registered Nurse / Charge Nurse
05.2019 - 07.2022
Traveling Medical Assistant / OR Scheduler / Prior Authorization Specialist / EPIC Super User
UPMC Hamot Bariatric Surgery
05.2012 - 05.2018
Medical Assistant / Medical Billing & Coding Specialist / Prior Authorization Specialist
UPMC Harborcreek Family Physicians
05.2010 - 05.2012
Brevillier Village
Medical Billing & Coding Certificate - undefined
Great Lakes Institute of Technology
Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) -
Mercyhurst University