Barbara Patterson

Director Patient Financial Services

Professional Overview

Barbara Patterson is a seasoned healthcare revenue cycle management professional with over 15 years of experience optimizing financial operations and driving performance improvements. As the Director of Patient Financial Services at MedStar Health, she oversees all aspects of patient billing, collections, and customer service for a multi-hospital healthcare system. With a strong background in revenue cycle management, she excels at implementing strategic initiatives to enhance operational efficiency, boost cash flow, and enhance the patient financial experience.

Experience Summary

Current Role

As the Director of Patient Financial Services at MedStar Health since 2020, Barbara is responsible for leading a team of over 200 professionals and managing an annual patient revenue portfolio of $800 million. In this role, she has spearheaded the implementation of a new patient financial assistance program, resulting in a 25% increase in charity care approvals and a 15% reduction in bad debt write-offs. Barbara has also overseen the integration of advanced analytics into the revenue cycle, enabling data-driven decision-making and process improvements that have improved first-pass claims resolution by 18%.

Career Progression

Prior to her current role, Barbara served as the Sr. Revenue Cycle Manager at CalvertHealth Systems, Inc. from 2018 to 2020, where she led the organization's transition to a new electronic health record (EHR) system and streamlined revenue cycle workflows, leading to a 12% increase in net patient revenue. From 2005 to 2018, she held various management positions at Calvert Memorial Hospital, including as the Manager of Patient Financial Services, where she implemented innovative collection strategies that reduced patient bad debt by 20% over a three-year period.

Academic Background

Barbara holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Maryland, with a focus on Healthcare Management. She is also a Certified Healthcare Financial Professional (CHFP) and a member of the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA).

Areas of Expertise

• Revenue cycle management

• Patient financial assistance and customer service

• Healthcare data analytics and reporting

• Electronic health record (EHR) system implementation

• Process improvement and operational efficiency

Professional Impact

Throughout her career, Barbara has demonstrated a commitment to improving the financial performance and patient experience within the healthcare industry. Her strategic initiatives and data-driven approach have consistently delivered measurable results, earning her recognition as a thought leader in revenue cycle management. Barbara continues to share her expertise by contributing to industry publications and speaking at regional healthcare finance conferences.

Conclusion

With her extensive experience, strong leadership skills, and innovative approach to revenue cycle management, Barbara Patterson is poised to drive continued success in her role as the Director of Patient Financial Services at MedStar Health. Her dedication to enhancing the financial and operational performance of healthcare organizations, while prioritizing the patient experience, makes her a valuable asset to any organization seeking to optimize its financial operations and improve its bottom line.