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Stephen M. Mooney

President, Revenue Cycle Solutions

Talk to Stephen Mooney, and his passion for what sets Conifer apart reveals itself almost instantly. “We were born out of a healthcare organization,” he emphasizes. “We understand what clients face every single day, from every side. Revenue, expenses and cash flow.”

“No company in the industry has the depth and breadth of experience that Conifer represents,” he says. Nor can anyone match the passion of Conifer’s people. “Take a tour,” he insists. “You’ll see what we really bring to making a difference in healthcare. Hospital executives have multiple competing priorities, and not that the revenue cycle isn’t important, because it is critical, but some of the priorities require their personal attention since they can’t be delegated.” These priorities include physician relationships, capital investments and ensuring they are delivering the best quality care, to name just a few. But they aren’t necessarily best suited or equipped to deal with the revenue cycle. “We are,” Steve says. “It’s all we think about. We have invested significant time, energy and money to generate best in class results, which we want to bring to other providers. Without cash to reinvest, there is no quality care. And without positive patient and physician experiences, there is no revenue.”

After 19 years in the industry, Steve takes the work Conifer does for clients extremely personally. “We could help them so much,” he says of many of the hospitals that continue to do this for themselves, or turn to other providers. “I know everyone in this space, and there is no way anyone can do for you what we can,” he states. “But people can’t see that from the outside. You have to come in and look.”

If that sounds like an invitation, “It absolutely is.”

Accomplishments

• President, Conifer, since its formation in 2008
• 19 years with Tenet, leading Tenet Patient Financial Services from 2004 to 2008
• Internal Audit, the Trump Organization
• Bachelor of Arts, Stockton State College, New Jersey
• Master of Business Administration, Pepperdine University

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Janie Patterson

Senior Vice President, Revenue Cycle Services

“How can we break from the status quo and truly make a difference in healthcare?” That's the question that drives Janie Patterson, responsible for Conifer's Revenue Cycle Services. There is no single answer of course, but Janie knows where to look.

“We've been in the trenches,” she says. “Not being told, but doing. So we know what our clients are going through.” With 25 years of experience, Janie really does know, deploying that knowledge in a myriad of ways. “Our processes are tested for results. For instance, if a model shows us a patient is more likely to pay with a call than a statement, we call.”

Janie's proudest achievement is helping raise Conifer's “Exceeding Expectations” score above 90 percent among client CFOs. What was the secret? “The Revenue Cycle Services team has a wealth of knowledge to help clients achieve their objectives. That's what we think about every day.”

Achievements

• Senior Vice President, Tenet Healthcare
• Consolidated eight Regional Business Offices into five, including the National Medicare/Medicaid Center for Tenet Healthcare, serving 57 hospitals
• Has held key roles in Tenet Healthcare since 1990
• Bachelor of Science, Business Administration, University of Phoenix

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Jeffrey M. Nieman

Senior Vice President, Operations

There are two sides to the work that Jeff Nieman does. “Let me start with serving the patient,” he says. “Patients are either paying or they’re not. We’re trying to make their side of the transaction easier — if they’re happier with the process they’re more likely to pay.”

“The other side is serving the hospitals,” he continues, “so they can focus on their core mission.” Jeff knows what makes a hospital great. “Quality of care and the patient experience, not billing and collections,” he says. “If hospitals provide a service which they document well and bill, they should get paid for that service.”

To that end, Jeff says, Conifer offers more than experience. “Conifer is very good at seeing what’s important, creating metrics and accountability, and doing what it takes to drive cash flow and service.” In that, he says clearly, “we bring proven results.”

Achievements

• Senior Director of National Programs, Tenet Patient Financial Services
• Director of Operations, Humana, Inc.
• Key leadership positions, HCA, Inc.
• Bachelor of Science in Economics, Magna Cum Laude, Bellarmine University, Louisville

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John M. Frenzel

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

CFO John Frenzel can provide a clear-eyed analysis of any situation. On what sets Conifer apart: “We’re the only revenue cycle provider that offers the full-spectrum of front-end to back-end services.” On Conifer’s value to customers: “We’re going to collect more money, more efficiently and quicker so the hospital has more cash to reinvest into patient care.” And on his basic approach to all challenges: “I want to do what’s right, not what’s easy.”

John has had an extensive career in outsourcing services, going back to the late 80s, so he brings a studied perspective on how Conifer will succeed. With technology, yes, but not technology alone. “It’s also driven by our people’s inherent understanding of what has to be done, how to do it, and how to measure it. And how to set the industry-leading standards that we can then meet — and exceed.”

Achievements

• Chief Financial Officer, EDS
• Chief Financial Officer, PHNS
• Bachelor’s Degree in Business from Miami University (Ohio)
• MBA in Finance from Indiana University

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J. Michael Thatcher

Senior Vice President, Business Development

Mike Thatcher wants to know the “why” of everything. Responsible for leading sales and marketing, he arrived in March 2009 — with extensive experience in the kind of long-term service agreements that provide clients with superior benefits.

“There’s a lot of value to create for clients right now,” Mike says. “If you’re a hospital company, handling the revenue is not fun. You’d rather focus on saving lives.” Mike’s experience and knowledge of the healthcare industry allows clients to do just that.

Mike sees Conifer’s $200 million investment in innovative technology as unrivaled in the industry. “Most of our competitors aren’t even that large,” he says. “Our centralized revenue cycle operation leverages those investments, adding best practices on collecting payments from insurance companies, the government or individuals.” The totality of Conifer’s services also gives clients a powerful edge. Why? “Because no one connects it like Conifer,” he says.

Achievements

• National Sales and Marketing Director for PHNS, Inc
• Leadership positions with Perot Systems, McKesson Corp., and EDS
• Colonel, U.S. Army National Guard, Retired
• Bachelor of Science, Texas A&M University

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Matthew C. Michaels

Senior Vice President, Administration

Matt Michaels describes “professional empathy” this way: “It’s easy to think about what I want to happen. But we have to put ourselves in the customer’s seat, and see their point of view, and what their needs are.” To Matt, that’s what leadership’s about.

Matt feels lucky to work with people who see things the same way. “‘Innovation’ is a word we use a lot,” Matt says, but innovation is service to clients. “People want to evolve quickly, but our innovations have to drive Conifer to adapt to customer needs.”

As Matt sees it, there’s a very practical side to this concept. “As we bring on customers,” he says, “we are leading them through change, and managing change is never easy. It means being fully focused on the client so we can understand their challenges as fully as they do. That’s how we’ll succeed.”

Achievements

• Promoted to Vice President in March 2009, after serving four months as Senior Director of Administration for Conifer
• Served two years as Senior Director of Operations Planning and Strategy for Tenet Patient Financial Services
• Led Tenet’s eBusiness Strategy department for five years
• Bachelor of Science, University of Wisconsin
• Master of Business Administration, Stern School of Business, NYU

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Norma Zeringue

Senior Vice President, Strategy

Using her 25 years of experience to make a difference — to help hospitals deliver better care to more people — is at the heart of Norma Zeringue’s agenda. “I’ve worked in nearly every department in hospital operations,” she says modestly. “Marketing, AP, payroll, accounting, operations, business development, systems, government programs.” Modesty aside, Norma’s experience has given her an exceptionally broad perspective. “I know how the revenue cycle fits into the overall hospital structure and how it impacts care to the patient,” she says.

In fact, working with people similarly positioned to make a difference in healthcare is one of the reasons she’s at Conifer. “My colleagues have similar pedigrees,” she says. “We understand the pressures and the tensions of hospital operations and what it means to operate a successful hospital.” And with all due respect to Conifer’s competitors, “They haven’t dealt with the nuances of hospital operations. We have,” she says. “And that’s the value Conifer brings to their clients.”

Achievements

• Senior Vice President, Strategy, Conifer Revenue Cycle Solutions, since its formation
• Vice President, Process Innovation and Financial Integrity, Tenet Patient Financial Services, 1999 - 2008
• Twenty-five years of leadership roles across Tenet
• Bachelor of Science, Nicholls State University, Louisiana
• Master of Business Administration, University of Phoenix, California