Karen Hastings

Email: abow15@r.postjobfree.com

Address: **** *. ******** *****

City: Englewood

State: CO

Zip: 80112

Country: USA

Phone: 303-***-****

Skill Level: Experienced

Salary Range: 60

Willing to Relocate

Primary Skills/Experience:

See Resume

Educational Background:

See Resume

Job History / Details:

Karen Hastings BA, CPC

7488 E. Hinsdale Place

Centennial, CO 80112

Phone: 303-***-****

abow15@r.postjobfree.com

Work History

9/11 - Present, Level IV Surgical Coder, Denver Health, Denver, CO

Certified Professional Coder at Denver Health and Hospital Authority, a teaching facility affiliated with University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. Responsible for the surgical coding for six specialties: Opthomalogy, Neurosurgery, General Surgery, Trauma Surgery, ENT, and Urology. Also responsible for on-going education of the eighteen surgeons in regards to documentation requirements and to keep them abreast of current coding updates, trends, and requirements. This education is provided through one-on-one as well as group meetings with the physicians, quarterly chart audits of individual surgeons, and a monthly newsletter of my creation.

This position requires I be a liaison between the surgeons and coding management. I am responsible to research and answer the surgeons' questions, provide necessary reports, and meet with departmental managers regarding coding issues.

Recently took on many management responsibilities with the resignation of an assistant coding manager and these responsibilities are in addition to those mentioned above. They include on-going training of other coders and Quality Assurance on their coding, researching and correcting charges that hit internal coding edits, assisting with claim denials, and meeting with various departments to determine better workflow processes throughout the Denver Health community as it relates to coding and compliance regulations.

This position requires continuing education by attending coding seminars and keeping Certified Professional Coder status.

6/97 - 9/11, Chart Abstractor, University Physicians, Inc., Aurora, CO

Certified Professional Coder at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center responsible for all surgical coding for thirty surgeons in the Division of Adult Urology, including male infertility; the Division of GI, Endocrine, and Tumor; the Division of Cardiothoracic, including heart and lung transplants; the Division of Kidney and Liver Transplants, and the Division of Vascular Surgery. Works closely with self-pay and advance pay patients. Responsible for an average monthly billing amount around $2 million.

This position requires close contact with both physicians and Division managers to keep them current on the latest coding requirements and trends.

This position requires continuing education by attending coding seminars and keeping Certified Professional Coder status current. Some account follow up necessary especially when using unlisted codes, on transplant surgeries, and co-surgeries.

8/92 - 6/97, Coding Specialist, University Women's Health Physicians, Minneapolis, MN

Responsible for clinical and surgical coding for the Department of OB/GYN at the University of Minnesota. This included deliveries, benign GYN, Gynecological Oncology, and female infertility. This position required an average monthly billing of $400,000. Also performed clinic coding at a satellite clinic while training the staff in the coding process.

Responsible for all surgical prior authorizations and clinic referrals for the entire Department. Position required visits to the hospital floor to abstract charges for chemotherapy and patients with post-op complications. Was instrumental in creating a clinical charge ticket that could be utilized by the Department of OB/GYN and University Hospital. Position required intense account follow up.

8/89 - 8/92, Benefits Coordinator, Fortis Benefits Insurance Company, Woodbury, MN

Responsible for supervision, assistance, training, auditing, and monitoring accuracy and timeliness of twelve Benefit Analysts and one assistant in processing group medical and dental claims. Coordinated and prepared continuing training for Benefit Analysts in all claim units. Position required continued updating of knowledge on five different medical and two different dental contracts.

Responded to claim reviews submitted by insureds, providers, attorneys, state insurance organizations, and in-house departments. Assisted in recovery of overpayments and reinsurance claims. Position required a high degree of customer service skills in resolving these situations.

Was involved in special projects for Auditing and System Enhancement within the company to enable claims processors to adjudicate medical/dental claims more quickly and accurately for better cost effectiveness. These projects included writing training manuals and training all Benefit Analysts.

Education

Graduated December 2011 from the University of Colorado, Magna Cum Laude, with an honors degree in Anthropology and a Minor in Political Science. Grade Point Average 3.95

Participated in four mandatory coding seminars per year since 1998

Attained Certified Professional Coder 1999

Graduated Byron High School, Byron, MN

REFERENCES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST

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