Her Story
About Berlinda
I am an account specialist in finance and healthcare with 5 years of experience in direct finance. I manage skilled nursing facility accounts for residents, handling all back office operations for the facilities. My key responsibilities include posting all cash receipts, ensuring census accuracy on a daily basis with correct numbers for admissions and discharges, managing payer information and insurance, and overseeing facility finances. I currently manage billing for a skilled nursing facility with about 180 residents and an assisted living facility with about 60 residents. What inspires me most is making a difference in the financial aspect of healthcare by ensuring facilities are financially healthy. My role involves making sure each resident comes in with accurate primary insurance for payment, helping residents and family members get approved for Medicaid so their accounts stay current without financial burdens or collection agency worries, and ensuring facilities book and maximize revenue so they can grow as an organization. Before my current position, I worked as a Business Office Manager for over 3 years. I am currently completing my bachelor's degree in finance this year, having earned my associate's degree in business management and entrepreneurship from Eastern Gateway Community College in 2021. I am also taking a course in revenue cycle management (RCM training). What makes me different is my passion to help, my skill sets, and my ability to go above and beyond for others. I am super organized, believe communication is key, and am a team player willing to go the extra mile.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Berlinda
01What do you attribute your success to?
I think it's my passion, just to help, and my skill sets. I think it's what makes me different, and my ability to go above and beyond for others. I'm super organized, and communication is key for me. Organizations love that. People love that when you're a team player and you're willing to go above and beyond.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Don't give up. Live within your purpose, because when you're in your purpose, your career thrives. And don't let no one stop you. I mean, I received multiple advice throughout my career, but most important, I think it's to never give up, regardless, and to keep going.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would say to always remain a student. No matter what level you achieve, whether you become a business owner, whether you become an assistant or executive assistant, never stop becoming a student of your own environment, of the people around you. You can always learn something new.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
From a finance point of view, the biggest challenge is making sure that residents come in with a payer, that they come in with insurance, and that their insurances are active. We do come across residents who just kind of fall through the cracks, where their eligibility is verified and then a few days later we get notified that they have no insurance. That's a challenge in itself because then the patient will be charged privately, or if they are eligible for Medicaid, we can use a Medicaid pending status for those residents. But overall, it hits the organization financially when residents come in with no insurance. So I think that's the biggest challenge in making sure that the facility thrives and has a good and healthy financial standing.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Loyalty, integrity, passion, and having a vision is important.
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