MICHELE STERN, R.H.I.A.

2401 Chicago Avenue S., #208 * Minneapolis, Minnesota 55404 * ms38680c@

westpost.net * (651) 319-1888
SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS:
* Seasoned Healthcare Leader experienced in management, revenue cycle, HIPPA, IC
D-9-CM coding, EHR, process improvement and re-engineering.
* A talent for analyzing problems, developing and simplifying procedures and cre
ating innovative solutions.
* Proven ability to motivate and work effectively with persons from all cultures
and walks of life.
* Knowledge of clinical work flow and clinical terminology.
* Demonstrated business acumen and integrity.
* Excellent customer relations including responsiveness to clients needs and tho
rough follow through.
* Knowledge of CMS regulations; keen sense of personnel capabilities; experience
d trainer and presenter.
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY:
REGINA MEDICAL CENTER Hastings, Minnesota
Manager, Health Information Management July 2009 - December 2009
* Oversee daily Health Information Management operations including clerical, cod
ing and transcription functions.
* Coordinate and direct personnel and workload to meet departmental goals.
* Perform supervisory functions to include hiring, firing, counseling, evaluatin
g, orienting and training to ensure a competent medical record staff.
* Performs quality improvement audits to ensure departmental accuracy rates are
met.
* Assure electronic medical records are complete, accurate and available to supp
ort patient care, business and financial objectives.
* Assure 3M Encoder functionality and that it is updated yearly.
STERN RECRUITING ADVANTAGE, INC. Tampa, Florida
Principal/CEO (Executive HIM/HR Search Firm) March 2007 - june 2009
* Independently manage the day-to-day operations of a Health Information Managem
ent recruiting firm; source, interview and forward resumes of qualified candidat
es to clients to fill their vacant positions.
* Identify, log, analyze and manage (potential and actual) issues and risks, tak
ing correction action and confronting issues head on. Reviewed how these issues
and risks might impact scope, schedule quality and cost.
STERN & ASSOCIATES, INC. Tampa, Florida
Principal/CEO August 1997 - Mar
ch 2007
(Executive HIM Search Firm/Partner)
* Developed experienced sourcing strategies and initiatives; managed team in exe
cution of strategic objectives including identification and relationship managem
ent of agency relationships and contracts.
* Sourced, interviewed and forwarded resumes of qualified candidates to clients
to fill their vacant positions.
* Provided oversight of comprehensive internal and external workforce planning s
trategies and initiatives; partnered with CFO to develop accurate and innovative
workforce plans to support near and long-term workforce challenges resulting fr
om staffing changes, organizational or workforce transformations, technological
advancements and/or business needs.
* *Bought out by partner and started again on my own with above company.
MEDI-HEALTH OUTSOURCING, INC. King of Prussia, Pennsylvania
Vice President/HIM (85% travel) January 1997 -August 1997
* Executive Consultant charged with developing professional HIM management outso
urcing services within major hospitals located throughout the Northeast and Wash
ington, D.C. areas.
* Re-engineered HIM work processes that prioritize all activities that affect re
venue cycle and measure employees performance at each step.
* Prepared proposals and contracts for long-term assignments of Medi-Health empl
oyees serving in directorship and/or other managerial positions at client locati
ons.
* Provided mentoring and JCAHO administrative support for staff members on assig
nment.
MEDNET SERVICES, INC. Tampa, Florida
Vice President/COO (35% travel) May 1992 - December 1996
* Managed all operational functions for medical billing software development com
pany; served as a consultant on medical software applications providing training
and technical/marketing support.
* Developed ad executed project work plans, interacting with client personnel an
d supervising Sales Manager, Programmer, Marketing /Software Support staff.
MORTON PLANT HOSPITAL (750-bed A/C) Clearwater, Florida
Director, Health Information Management April 1989 - May 1992
* Directed development of information services for HIM, Tumor Registry, Transcri
ption/Word Processing Departments, together with managing four (4) full-time sta
ff supervisors (65 full-time staff members).
* Assisted in development and preparation of a cost-benefit analysis for $4M opt
ical imaging system; to be used as an enterprise information and records managem
ent strategy for the organization.
* Reduced receivables from $1.0M to less than $100K by improving billing efficie
ncy via reduction in coding turn-around.
* Evaluated, implemented and coordinated installation of computerized encoders t
hat streamline coding function and attestation completion.
* Managed Health Information Management Department at lower cost per unit by rev
amping record storage, utilizing optical imaging systems and modernizing record
analysis.
* Developed database of information utilizing Shared Medical Systems (SMS) to pr
ovide a broad=-based range of health information for ongoing usage.
* Implemented a physician delinquency suspension system concurrently with record
analysis system reducing delinquencies and improving timeliness of record turn-
around by 100%.
* Contracted for outside transcription service decreasing turn-around from five
(5) days to twenty-four (24) hours; focus on improving processes and utilizing c
urrent technology tools.
* Successfully passed JCAHO Survey without any recommendations for the HIM Depar
tment.
BAYFRONT MEDICAL CENTER (562-bed A/C teaching) St. Petersburg, Florida
Director, Health Information Management March 1988 - May 1989
* Directed and managed all operational functions for the HIM Department includin
g coding, transcription and budget preparation together with supervising forty-t
hree (43) full-time staff members.
* Assigned oversight responsibilities for hospital-wide quality assurance and ut
ilization management.
* Ensured legal requirements pertaining to medical records complied with state a
nd federal regulations.
AMERICAN MEDICAL INTERNATIONAL (AMI) Atlanta, Georgia/Tampa, Florida
HIM Consultant (85% travel) September 1984 -March 1988
* Provided consulting services including re-engineering of divisional facilities
in the areas of Health Information Management, Quality Assurance, Utilization M
anagement/DRGs, JCAHO Accreditation, Risk Management, Medical Staff Credentialin
g, Discharge Planning and Medical Transcription.
* Participated in case mix analysis of hospital data and provided in-service and
prepared presentations for medical staff and administration.
* Ensured that all high-dollar accounts records were completed on the day of dis
charge.
* Worked closely with Admissions/Registration, Physicians and Physician/Business
Office Managers to create a streamlined and integrated billing and collection c
ycle; eliminated all unnecessary/ redundant work by reducing the number of hando
ffs between individuals and departments to help avoid errors.
* Automated billing and collection cycle to ensure insurance verification occurs
automatically when payer information and the plan code number are entered into
the system guaranteeing up-to-=date information and more expeditious (and accura
te) payments.
EDUCATION:
NEW ENGLAND COLLEGE (EDG 8/2011)
Master of Science - Healthcare Administration
FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY/North Miami/1983
Bachelor of Science Health Information Management
Certification: Registered health Information Administrator (R.H.I.A.)
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS:
American Health Information Management Association
Minnesota Health Information Management Association