Sabbatical / CPC Certification Study - Self-Employment - Candler, NC
(2024-11)
Upon leaving the Charles George VAMC, I took a sabbatical to care for my War Veteran husband while he was undergoing a PTSD mental health crisis and also utilized the time to study for achieving a CPC with APPC. I obtained my certification on 6/15/2026. Through the delineation process, I submitted letters from my former coding auditor and supervisor, to which the apprentice has been removed.
Medical Records Technician - Outpatient Medical Coder - Charles George VA Medical Center - 1100 Tunnel Rd Asheville, NC 28803
(2017-06 - 2024-11)
- Reviewed medical records to abstract and assign appropriate procedural and diagnosis codes for insurance and statistical reporting in an outpatient setting
- Utilized required software applications as provided by the employer
- Communicated with medical providers regarding need for clarification within the medical records to assign appropriate procedure and diagnosis codes
- Consistently met metric standards for productivity and accuracy
- Complied with education necessary for accurately reporting due to updated and/or new procedural and diagnosis codes
Advanced Medical Support Assistant - Charles George VA Medical Center - 1100 Tunnel Rd Asheville, NC 28803
(2016-09 - 2017-06)
- Assist with managing supplies, overseeing phone operations, maintaining signage, analyzing/streamlining patient flow through clinical areas and ensuring the most efficient utilization of resources, both in personnel and material
- Availability to work in any clinic, at a moment's notice, due to the technical requirements of communication with physicians and other clinical staff
- Receive and process documents and reports in accordance with established procedures
- Respond to questions from patients and providers concerning services
- Provide advisory and technical assistance to patients, administrative staff, and professional staff regarding medical care
- Contact patients to identify, track and bill third party health insurance carrier using computer generated lists to call patients to update patient information
Front Office Assistant - Carolina Spine & Neurosurgery Center - 7 Vanderbilt Park Drive Asheville, NC 28803
(2015-01 - 2016-08)
- Checked patients in for appointments; collection of payments and posting
- Checked patients out for appointments, scheduling appropriate follow up appointments and per physician request, responsible for the coordination and scheduling of referrals for other specialty consults, obtaining proper authorization when applicable
- Ensuring all charts had the correct information per physician protocols for patient's appointments
- Reminder calls made for patient's appointments
- Entering or updating patient demographic information
- Switchboard operations, routing calls accordingly
Surgery Scheduling - Carolina Spine & Neurosurgery Center - 7 Vanderbilt Park Drive Asheville, NC 28803
(2012-10 - 2015-01)
- Coordination of surgical dates amenable to hospital, physician and patient
- Per physician's documentation/recommended procedures, appropriate CPT and ICD-9 code selections are made
- Pre-certification department is then forwarded appropriate documentation
- Upon pre-certification approval, necessary pre-operative and post-operative appointments are scheduled
- Confirmation of operating room and hospital equipment is made. When applicable, the appropriate arrangements for additional instrumentation are confirmed with outside representatives
- Additional duties include but not limited to responding to questions from patients concerning surgeries and/or related appointments; knowledge of Privacy Act requirements due to persons other than patients requesting information related to surgeries; search EMR to locate documentation necessary to completion of above-described duties (when not appropriately provided); fill in for Pre-certification Department as needed
- Responsible for the release of private health information in compliance with HIPAA
- Compiling all pertinent information and documentation for the physician prior to patient appointments
