Her Story
About Kathy Counts-
Kathy Counts is a clinical DRG auditor with nearly two decades of experience in healthcare auditing. She reviews hospital claims daily from her home office, typically handling 20 to 24 charts to verify that billed codes align with clinical documentation and coding guidelines. Kathy's career path began with roles as a medical assistant and LPN before she shifted to the administrative side of healthcare through coding and health information management. She takes pride in consistently achieving accuracy scores of 95 percent or higher, a standard required in her field. Kathy is a member of AHIMA and credits her success to her determination to set an example for her children after overcoming early challenges, including completing much of her education online through persistence and goal setting.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Kathy Counts-
01What do you attribute your success to?
My motivation to set a good example for my kids. I came from nothing and grossed $180,000 last year. I wanted my kids to do all of it and showed them that it's hard but possible.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Never say never. Don't let people tell you what you can't do, you just show them what you can do. From boss Tony McDaniel.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Keep your eye on AI. Get your RN as a backup plan because things change and you need something to fall back on. Don't pick a career focused on one thing.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Experience is hard to get as new graduates; nobody will hire without it. AI is taking over workflows and may eliminate need for auditors.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Honesty is the most important. If I can't seem not being honest, I will remove myself from work or home life.
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