It's really simple...when claims are billed timely and reimbursed appropriately the patient doesn't need to become involved in the billing process. They need to be involved in the healing process - the financial side shouldn't get in the way. That's why my job can really make an impact.

I am currently the manager over Reimbursement, Adjudication and Support. My team is responsible for ensuring that managed care contract terms are applied correctly to ensure our revenue is accurately reported. Managed care contracts can be difficult to navigate and administer so my team adds value to our clients, our company and to patients nationwide. The way we use technology, processes and communication really sets us apart. You aren't among the leaders. At Conifer you are the leader.

I started in healthcare in 1997 as a practice administrator for a General Surgery practice that had a sub-specialty in breast diseases and laparoscopic procedures. I did everything from coding, billing, collections, appeals, contract negotiations and marketing.

In 2002, I accepted a position as an auditor for UT Southwestern Health Systems. Then I read about this place in the Dallas Business Journal...one of the best employers. You can't beat that. So when a friend recruited me to join the team, I jumped at the chance.

I really enjoy it here. The people I work with are the best of the best. True professionals who know that the best ideas are the ones you share. We really do work as a team. At the same time, as an individual you are encouraged to expand your knowledge and your skills. Your growth matters at Conifer. It's that rare combination of great people and a great environment that makes each day special. But some days do tend to stand out.

One day I remember in particular was a team building event we do for the American Heart Association. It's a carnival where we have everything from hot dogs to cotton candy. For the past two years, I have sat in the "Pie in the Face" booth! I love it! The people here make you feel comfortable. Even in a situation like that!

Being a facility-based employee, my office is located in the Emergency Department of a hospital. Basically I oversee the day-to-day operations for Patient Access in the Emergency Department, Labor & Delivery and Bed Management. This means I work directly with patients and the atmosphere is great. We interact with the hospital staff and we never lose sight of the fact that our work directly benefits the patient.

It's a big responsibility and it's important to remember that customers are not only our patients, but co-workers, vendors, patient's friends and family. We always need to be at our very best.

My career before Conifer really gave me a solid foundation to build upon. I worked as an ED Admissions Representative. I was an ER tech. I was even an EMT. As you might imagine, I'm right at home in the Emergency Department.

I applied to Conifer online and then contacted the location directly and spoke with the manager. They were looking for good people with a strong work ethic and the ability to grow within the organization. It was a perfect match for me.

The biggest thing I have learned from my job is the ability to grow. At Conifer you have endless opportunities to advance in your career. That's the way it should be. And that's really why I'm here.

You're encouraged to think outside the box. You work with people who welcome your ideas, ask for help and support you at every opportunity. It's more than teamwork. It's a career that can really take you places. My Director has made it a point to expose me to as much of her role as possible to help me achieve the next level on the career ladder. It's a great feeling to know that my future matters.

Conifer really does care about employees. When we had Hurricane Katrina, it was amazing how the company responded to make sure employees from the New Orleans office had a safe place to go. Conifer also made sure that everyone had the opportunity to work in other locations or telecommute. And when a disaster hit Florida, people were without electricity for a week. Conifer made sure employees had a hot lunch every day because we knew it would be the only hot meal they would get.

The company didn't have to do any of those things. But Conifer truly values everyone who builds a career here. And it's not just talk. At Conifer you see the commitment every day.

People are surprised when they hear that. But really depending on your role at Conifer, you can find success with almost any background. The company is always evolving and growing, so it's great to have new perspectives and ideas.

Your strength may be in finance or technology or management, and the healthcare side is something you will learn throughout your career. That's what I have done and that's what I continue to do. The best part about Conifer is you work with experts in every area of business and healthcare. So you learn from the very best.

What's it like to do what I do at Conifer? Well I am in charge of ensuring our Contract Management System is set up correctly. Multitasking is what I do best. Each day I have lots of emails to answer, phone calls to make, questions from the staff to respond to...I work with the facilities when an issue has been identified...I assist the Credit team when needed and advise offices when issues have been identified or corrected.

It's never boring. Every day something new pops up and gives me an opportunity to research and find new ways to improve how our system calculates claims or how we can just do things in a better way. It's exciting to find solutions that make a major impact on the company and on the clients we serve.

When I first started, the office was so new you could still smell the paint on the walls. But for me it was exciting to be part of something that was sure to take off and grow. And that's exactly what happened. It seems like we get bigger and better every year. New people. New ideas. New experiences. That's what Conifer is all about.

That's one of the things I've always enjoyed about working here. We keep growing — really in every sense of the word — and it's exciting to experience what each day might bring.

My father used to have his own typewriter company. When I was a child I would help him and my mother after school with filing, typing, mailing, and creating invoices - basic office work which I really enjoyed. After graduating I essentially ran the entire office for a construction company — from creating spread sheets to calculating numbers, I did it all. I've always learned fast, which is one of the reasons I'm at Conifer.

I started as a full-time temp and after three months, I was hired permanently. I still bring the same work ethic to the office every day...just like I did at my father's typewriter company.

I basically help out in any way I can. Whether it's creating a spread sheet, taking charge in the mailroom or just answering the phone, I'm ready to pitch in and get the job done. Accuracy is so important. You have to make sure you get the job done right the first time and every detail matters.

My co-workers are amazing. We work together and we're always willing to help each other out. In my opinion, one of the best things about Conifer, besides having a great team around you, is that you are recognized for the work you do. It's a good feeling. I mean who doesn't want to feel appreciated?

This is the kind of place where your coworkers really are your friends. You're expected to lend a helping hand...and you really don't have to ask when you need one in return. Teamwork really works here.

As a Patient Advocate I really have the opportunity to help people. I love that about my job. By working with healthcare organizations to limit their bad debt, we can make sure patients get the level of care they need. Plus the client builds a positive image in the community.

It's a great feeling when you've secured an approval for aide so a child, a mother or a father can now receive the medical attention they need. I remember securing aide for a homeless patient who was admitted as a Jane Doe and reuniting her with her family. That was simply incredible.

I liked the idea of belonging in a company that was nationally known with tremendous potential for growth. That's what brought me to Conifer.

I worked in hospitals before...in the Admitting Department, the Financial/Discharge-U/R Department. I was also a Financial Counselor where I worked very closely with Utilization Review/Case Managers and Social Services. When I was asked to interview at Conifer I knew this was the right career move.

You always hear about companies working as a team and caring about each other. But that's not just talk at Conifer. That's really how we work. I can approach anyone at any level in the organization and get the support I need to do my job. It seems like every day I communicate with patients, medical staff, government staff...and we're all working together to help secure aid that will help patients.

Teamwork is really the way we do things. And not just in my location, it's something you can find nationwide. I can count on coworkers anywhere in the country. How many jobs give you a support network like that?

I may not actually see the patient, but I know the work I do helps to improve their health. When you properly post payments to the patient's account, they know exactly what is owed to the facility or may be owed back to them. So they can focus on their health and the doctors and nurses have more time to spend on care.

I love working with numbers but I really love knowing that I am helping people get the care they need. It's one of the best things about my job!

I didn't know too much about Conifer when a friend told me about a job opportunity. But the more I learned the more I liked. I was very impressed with everything that Conifer provides to hospitals. I had no idea so much could be done outside of the facilities. Besides all of the work that was being done, the people that I met were so friendly and helpful. I knew this was the place for me.

I had always worked in the front office of Family Practice Medical Offices so I was familiar with verifying benefits and working with insurance companies. I also studied to be an accountant in college which definitely gave me a head start when I began to work in the Reconciliation Department. Basically, whatever your background, there is probably an opportunity that is right for you at Conifer.

I print multiple reports every morning, balance cash, credit cards, inter-facility transfers, and clear up existing outages. But just because I'm working with numbers doesn't mean I'm not part of a great team of people. At Conifer we are always there for one another and help each other in every way that we can. If you're having trouble you almost don't even have to ask...someone is there to help. That's one of the best things about working here. My coworkers care about me and I care just as much about them.

I have learned so much in the past two years since I started. We are constantly learning and expanding our knowledge every day. Professional growth is just part of the job at Conifer.

In my role I help ensure that we are meeting and exceeding compliance regulations. It means staying abreast of governmental payer changes and implementing processes to minimize the impact of those changes. It can be challenging work, but we never overlook the real reason we are here - to ultimately assist our clients in better meeting the needs of their patients.

By making sure claims are processed and paid appropriately and any issues are handled quickly and accurately, the patients only have to be concerned with the clinical, not financial part of their visit. That's really what we do...we let our clients and their patients focus on health.

Talk about leadership. I was referred to Conifer by a friend and the more I looked into the company and the more I learned, the more I was impressed. The focus and dedication of everyone I met was exceptional. Everyone shared a common vision and really seemed to enjoy their work.

Needless to say, I was ready to join. I have spent each and every day learning new things, taking on new challenges, and finding new reasons to be impressed by Conifer. It's a special place to work to say the least.

At Conifer we have Seven Core Values that reinforce who we should be while at work - Integrity, Unity, Service, Innovation, Profitability, Respect and Recognition. You really see those values celebrated each day you're here.

The learning opportunities are endless. There is an amazing healthcare knowledge base within Conifer that we come in contact with, which allows me to constantly enhance my abilities. If you're innovative and creative, you'll find that our culture is a perfect fit. New ideas are key to our success.

By resolving patient issues in a timely manner, we let patients know that we care about their health and wellbeing. This keeps patients committed to the facilities they use, which keeps our customer base strong. I love coming to work knowing that each day we resolve patient complaints, whether they've voiced those complaints or not.

Our clients count on our ability to collect money for them. Ensuring claims get out the door in a timely manner for billing is extremely important. If patients are happy with their individual care at the facilities, but are unsatisfied with billing and collection, they will choose to look elsewhere the next time they have a medical need. Our impact on our clients helps keep their patients loyal.

It was an extremely different environment than this small town boy had ever been in. But everyone was extremely welcoming on my first day. I knew I had made the right choice in moving to Dallas to join the Conifer team.

I really didn't have corporate office experience. My work experience prior to Conifer consisted of sales in the tool department at a national department store chain and some limited construction work. But the company recognized my talents. I interviewed over the phone and was invited to take the next step and interview in person. Everyone I met was incredible and this was the best career move I ever made.

It was unbelievable. An opportunity became available and I wasn't just considered, I was promoted. They knew I had the skills to be successful as a supervisor and that was that. It didn't matter how long I had been in my role or even with the company. They saw my potential. That's one of the special things about working at Conifer.

In my new role I monitor our inventory to ensure the staff is focused on the facilities that need the most attention that particular day. I also work closely with the management teams to ensure their department requests are completed accurately and in a timely manner. We make an impact everywhere it seems.

I love the opportunity that I have to help employees grow both professionally and personally. Being able to provide the staff with something that could affect their career for the better brings tons of joy to me. It's still a work in progress, but I am learning new techniques and ideas everyday that could benefit some individual at some point in their life. Each day brings a new set of challenges and that keeps me excited about the opportunity I have here with Conifer.