Barbara Kushen
Manager, Patient Financial Services, Facility Billing, Akron Children's Hospital
Professional Overview
Barbara Kushen is an experienced healthcare finance and operations professional with over 20 years of expertise in patient financial services, revenue cycle management, and team leadership. As the Manager of Patient Financial Services and Facility Billing at Akron Children's Hospital, she oversees a team responsible for optimizing the organization's revenue and billing processes.
Experience Summary
Current Role
As the Manager of Patient Financial Services and Facility Billing at Akron Children's Hospital, Barbara is responsible for managing a team of 25 patient accounts representatives and billing specialists. In this role, she ensures the timely and accurate processing of patient bills, claims, and payments, while also implementing process improvements to enhance efficiency and cash flow. Under her leadership, the team has achieved a 95% first-pass claims resolution rate and reduced the average accounts receivable days by 10%.
Career Progression
Prior to her current role, Barbara served as the Supervisor of Patient Accounts at Akron Children's Hospital, where she led a team of representatives in the successful resolution of complex patient accounts and insurance claims. She also held the position of Manager of Patient Financial Services at The MetroHealth System, where she was instrumental in streamlining the organization's Medicaid and Medicare billing processes, resulting in a 12% increase in reimbursement revenue.
Earlier in her career, Barbara worked as a Supervisor for Medicaid and Medicaid HMO in the Patient Financial Services department at The MetroHealth System, and as a Medicare and Medicaid Follow-up Representative at WISE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, where she developed a strong understanding of government healthcare program requirements and reimbursement policies.
Academic Background
Barbara holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Akron, with a focus on Healthcare Administration.
Areas of Expertise
- Revenue cycle management
- Patient financial services operations
- Medicaid and Medicare reimbursement
- Process improvement and optimization
- Team leadership and development
Professional Impact
Throughout her career, Barbara has consistently demonstrated a talent for driving operational excellence and fostering a culture of continuous improvement. Her strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and collaborative approach have enabled her to implement innovative solutions that have positively impacted the financial performance and patient experience of the healthcare organizations she has served.
Conclusion
With her extensive experience and proven track record of success, Barbara Kushen is a highly valuable asset to the healthcare industry. Her expertise in patient financial services, revenue cycle management, and team leadership make her well-equipped to contribute to the ongoing success and growth of Akron Children's Hospital and the communities it serves.
