Sharon Finerty
Verona,WI
Summary
Healthcare professional with extensive experience in electronic health record management and patient communication at Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital. Demonstrated ability to resolve complex issues while ensuring HIPAA compliance and fostering team collaboration. Recognized for attention to detail and effective appointment scheduling, enhancing patient care and satisfaction. Proficient in organized file management and insurance documentation, contributing to streamlined office operations.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
Work History
Unit Secretary
Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital
Fitchburg, WI
01.2024 - Current
- Managed patient records using electronic health record systems.
- Communicated effectively with patients, families, and healthcare team members.
- Handled incoming calls and directed inquiries to appropriate personnel.
- Managed the front desk area ensuring neatness at all times.
- Provided clerical support including filing, faxing, photocopying and data entry of patient information into electronic health record systems.
- Greeted visitors and patients in a courteous and friendly manner.
- Answered phone calls to provide assistance, information, and medical personnel access.
- Managed unit call reception and routed calls to correct department.
- Responded to requests from internal staff regarding patient information in accordance with HIPAA regulations.
- Monitored unit supply levels and notified management of ordering needs.
- Scheduled and confirmed patient appointments for diagnostic, surgical, and consultation services.
- Maintained strong and trusting rapport with patients and all healthcare staff to build relationships.
- Retrieved physicians' paperwork, including lab test requests.
- Scheduled diagnostic tests and procedures for patients according to established protocols.
- Communicated with management to facilitate efficient unit operation.
- Managed multiple projects simultaneously while meeting deadlines consistently.
- Managed confidential information with discretion and in accordance with HIPAA guidelines.
- Prepared and processed medical forms, documents, and reports, maintaining high accuracy.
- Supported the orientation of new staff by providing guidance on unit procedures and documentation.
- Utilized hospital information systems for data entry and retrieval.
- Facilitated communication between medical staff, patients, and families to ensure effective care delivery.
- Provided general support and assistance to the healthcare team as needed to facilitate unit operations.
- Entered patient information into hospital databases with attention to detail and accuracy.
- Monitored and ordered office and medical supplies to maintain inventory levels.
- Compiled and filed medical reports, charts, and correspondence.
- Answered phone calls, handling inquiries, and transferring calls to appropriate departments.
- Scheduled tests, lab work or x-rays for patients based on physician orders.
- Processed physician orders ensuring accuracy of documentation prior to submission for approval.
- Scheduled patient tests, procedures, and follow-up appointments.
- Maintained confidentiality of all patient information according to HIPAA guidelines.
- Assisted nursing staff with administrative tasks to support patient care.
- Communicated with patients with compassion while keeping medical information private.
- Transmitted medical records and other correspondence by mail, e-mail, or fax.
- Scheduled and confirmed patient appointments and consultations.
- Routed laboratory or diagnostic results to appropriate staff.
Revenue Cycle Specialist
Tegria
Coralville, IA
06.2021 - 06.2023
- Managed patient billing inquiries and resolved discrepancies effectively.
- Collaborated with healthcare providers to ensure accurate coding practices.
- Processed appeals related to denied or rejected claims in a timely manner.
- Audited payments from third-party payers to ensure accuracy of reimbursement amounts.
- Maintained current knowledge of insurance policies, procedures, regulations, and guidelines.
- Identified and corrected payment problems involving patients or third-party payers.
- Reviewed and processed insurance claims for timely submission and payment.
- Maintained patient records and updated information in electronic systems.
- Contacted insurance providers to check patient coverage.
- Ensured all regulatory requirements were met when submitting claims for payment.
Insurance Specialist
Compass Oncology
Vancouver, WA
05.2019 - 06.2021
- Reviewed insurance claims for compliance and accuracy.
- Maintained updated records of client interactions and transactions.
- Coordinated with healthcare providers to gather necessary documentation.
- Reviewed insurance policies to ensure compliance with existing regulations.
- Managed denials, late payments, extensions and other special circumstances by following up with relevant parties.
- Maintained accurate records of all transactions related to insurance policies.
- Ensured that customer data was kept confidential at all times in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.
- Responded promptly to customer inquiries about their policies and provided timely updates as needed.
- Collaborated with carriers to resolve discrepancies in insurance payments.
- Coordinated with other departments within the organization regarding issues related to policy administration.
- Resolved routine and complex issues by performing detailed research.
Surgery Scheduler
The Oregon Clinic
Portland, OR
09.2015 - 05.2019
- Scheduled patient appointments using electronic health record systems.
- Coordinated with physicians and medical staff for optimal scheduling.
- Managed patient inquiries regarding surgery schedules and preparation instructions.
- Updated patient information in the scheduling database accurately.
- Assisted patients in navigating pre-operative requirements and paperwork.
- Maintained organized records of surgical appointments and cancellations efficiently.
- Booked surgeries according to physician volume and maintained prompt turnaround times.
- Created and managed surgical schedules for multiple surgeons.
- Performed data entry into various computer systems related to surgery scheduling.
- Scheduled follow-up appointments as designated by physician.
- Collaborated and established strong working relationships with physicians, supervisors and colleagues.
- Coordinated with patients, staff, and physicians to ensure accurate scheduling of surgeries.
- Adhered to HIPAA guidelines when handling confidential information.
- Assisted doctors in resolving any conflicts related to surgery times or delays due to unforeseen circumstances.
- Provided patient education and answered questions regarding the surgery process.
- Maintained a high level of customer service by responding promptly to inquiries from patients and families about their care plans and procedures.
- Monitored and updated patient records in the electronic medical record system.
- Collaborated with other hospital personnel to coordinate resources for optimal patient flow during surgery scheduling processes.
- Attended weekly meetings with department managers in order to review progress of surgical scheduling operations.
- Located scheduling barriers and implemented appropriate solutions.
- Scheduled and confirmed patient appointments and consultations.
- Transmitted medical records and other correspondence by mail, e-mail, or fax.
- Adhered to HIPAA requirements to safeguard patient confidentiality.
- Arranged hospital admissions for patients as required.
- Communicated with patients with compassion while keeping medical information private.
- Routed laboratory or diagnostic results to appropriate staff.
Customer Care Representative
Vancouver Radiologists
Vancouver, WA
08.2014 - 09.2015
- Assisted patients with inquiries regarding healthcare services and coverage options.
- Managed appointment scheduling and coordinated patient follow-ups efficiently.
- Resolved patient complaints and concerns with empathy and professionalism.
- Collaborated with medical staff to ensure seamless patient communication flow.
- Utilized electronic health record systems to maintain accurate patient information.
- Provided customer service by answering inquiries, resolving complaints, and providing general information to clients regarding healthcare services.
- Collected payments from patients and entered them into the billing system accurately.
- Updated patient files in accordance with company policy and procedure guidelines.
- Adhered to HIPAA regulations when handling confidential patient information.
- Verified patient demographic information in order to ensure accuracy of data entry.
- Worked collaboratively with other departments such as billing, coding, clinical documentation improvement specialists when necessary.
- Managed customer inquiries through telephone, email, and social media interfaces.
- Scheduled appointments for patients using the electronic health records system.
- Assisted with training new staff members on policies and procedures related to customer service roles within the organization.
- Greeted patients upon arrival and answered any questions they had about their visit.
- Verified demographics and insurance information to register patients in computer system.
- Registered patients by completing face-to-face interviews to obtain demographic, insurance, and medical information.
- Obtained necessary signatures for privacy laws and consent for treatment.
- Guided patients through the completion of consent and other required medical forms.
- Monitored waiting areas to ensure a comfortable and safe environment for patients and visitors.
- Coordinated with clinical staff to manage patient flow, reducing wait times and improving satisfaction.
Release of Information Specialist
PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center
Vancouver, WA
08.2011 - 08.2014
- Processed requests for medical records and release of information.
- Ensured compliance with HIPAA regulations and patient confidentiality standards.
- Coordinated with healthcare providers to gather necessary documentation.
- Managed incoming and outgoing communication regarding information requests.
- Utilized electronic health record systems for data retrieval and management.
- Reviewed requests for completeness and accuracy before processing them.
- Collaborated with legal department on sensitive information disclosures.
- Processed incoming and outgoing mail, emails, faxes, and phone calls related to release of information requests.
- Used patient identifiers in electronic master patient index and applied controls to identify patient.
- Reviewed requester information in compliance with HIPAA guidelines to obtain patient data from electronic, off-site, or physical records.
- Provided guidance on interpretation and implementation of state laws governing disclosure of medical records.
- Compiled and organized medical documents for release of information requests.
- Leveraged computer software and technology to locate patient records.
- Verified accuracy of released information prior to dissemination.
- Investigated discrepancies between requestor-provided authorization forms and actual patient record contents.
- Responded promptly and professionally to customer inquiries via telephone or email.
- Prepared correspondence notifying requestors when additional documentation is needed prior to releasing requested documents.
- Participated in department, unit and hospital educational programs to maintain skill and competency levels.
- Searched electronic health record system for requested documents.
- Reviewed patient records to determine releasable information according to HIPAA regulations.
- Maintained positive working relationship with fellow staff and management.
- Pulled patient records and transferred information to appropriate parties.
- Proofread documents carefully to check accuracy and completeness of all paperwork.
- Answered questions and fulfilled requests with friendly and knowledgeable service.
- Transmitted information or documents to customers through email, mailings or facsimile machine.
- Maintained confidentiality of all patient records in accordance with HIPAA guidelines.
- Safeguarded medical records to maintain patient confidentiality.
Senior Medical Transcriptionist
PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center
Bellingham, WA
10.2001 - 08.2011
- Transcribed medical reports ensuring accuracy and adherence to guidelines.
- Reviewed documents for clarity and completeness before final submission.
- Operated transcription software to convert audio recordings into text format.
- Collaborated with healthcare professionals to clarify terminology and context.
- Maintained confidentiality of patient information in compliance with regulations.
- Reviewed documents for grammar, punctuation, spelling, formatting, readability, accuracy and completeness prior to submission.
- Edited audio recordings to ensure that they were suitable for transcription.
- Investigated difficult words or phrases that could not be understood from audio recordings.
- Maintained an up-to-date knowledge of medical terminology used in a variety of specialties.
- Developed templates for frequently used documents such as discharge summaries or operative notes.
- Collaborated with physicians and other healthcare professionals to clarify discrepancies in medical records.
- Adhered to HIPAA regulations regarding patient confidentiality when handling sensitive data.
- Utilized advanced dictation equipment and software programs to produce accurate transcripts.
- Ensured accuracy of all transcription work by proofreading documents before submitting them to physicians.
- Resolved any conflicts between dictated material and transcribed text.
- Interpreted complex medical terminology within various specialty areas including Cardiology, Oncology, Radiology.
- Demonstrated extremely fast and accurate typing abilities.
- Demonstrated strong knowledge of medical terminology and anatomy.
- Efficient in transcription software and equipment to work from home.
- Identified and corrected errors in reports which could compromise patient care.
- Maintained high accuracy rate on daily production of completed reviews.
- Demonstrated knowledge of HIPAA Privacy and Security Regulations by appropriately handling patient information.
- Reviewed diagnostic and procedural terminology for consistency with acceptable medical nomenclature.
- Transferred transcribed materials into electronic health records system.
- Attended training sessions geared to the position to improve skill set and increase speed and accuracy.
- Transcribed dictation for variety of medical reports.
- Returned dictated reports for physician's review, signature and corrections and inclusion in patients' medical records.
- Identified mistakes in reports and checked with doctors to obtain correct information.
- Took dictation using shorthand, stenotype machine or headsets and transcribing machines.
- Made corrections when needed to grammar, spelling, and syntax.
- Translated medical jargon and abbreviations into expanded forms to promote accuracy of patient and health care facility records.
Education
Associate of Applied Science - Health Information Management
Shoreline Community College
Seattle, WA06-2020
Skills
- Problem resolution
- Time management
- Team collaboration
- Attention to detail
- Interpersonal skills
- Technological adaptability
- Electronic health record management
- Appointment scheduling
- Patient data entry
- HIPAA compliance
- Medical documentation
- Healthcare communication
Timeline
Unit Secretary
Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital
01.2024 - Current
Revenue Cycle Specialist
Tegria
06.2021 - 06.2023
Insurance Specialist
Compass Oncology
05.2019 - 06.2021
Surgery Scheduler
The Oregon Clinic
09.2015 - 05.2019
Customer Care Representative
Vancouver Radiologists
08.2014 - 09.2015
Release of Information Specialist
PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center
08.2011 - 08.2014
Senior Medical Transcriptionist
PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center
10.2001 - 08.2011
Associate of Applied Science - Health Information Management
Shoreline Community College
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