The Bottom Line - Fall 2020 - 55

OFFICE OF THE NFPHC CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
HOW WE ARE SUCCEEDING

Revenue Cycle and Financial Systems,
Crystal Branch

s the Revenue Cycle and Financial
Systems Administrator, I work closely
with various departments within the hospital and OCFO and have seen and heard
firsthand the impact COVID-19 has had on
staff.
When it became apparent that COVID-19
would cause significant risk to everyone's
health, the discussions focused on determining if remote work was a real possibility. Once it was determined that at least
65% of the Hospital OCFO staff could work
remotely, the real issue became figuring out
how to make sure it happened safely. I will
not forget the support that the management
team gave me.
The first few weeks were frantic, and I
worked with IT to resolve issues including
connectivity, missing drives, and missing
applications. Multiple Zoom lines were utilized to facilitate daily and/or weekly meetings. Upon providing Zoom lines, I worked
with Patient Access, HIM, Patient Financial
Services, Accounts Payable, Payroll,

Budget, and Revenue Integrity to run test
sessions to verify everyone had access and
functionality. We expected growing pains
as we settled into working remotely while
still communicating and working with staff
onsite. As they adjusted to remote work, the
staff seemed to be more productive, as they
no longer had to deal with commute times,
money for gas and lunch, and in some
cases, daycare services.
Over five months later, COVID-19 continues to cause uneasiness about a potential
surge. It is imperative that all staff know that
they are valued and appreciated. The CFO
has made sure that Directors conduct Zoom
sessions to check on the well-being of their
staff and to learn what personal issues are
affecting their lives. It is a safe space for
employees to be themselves and bond with
their co-workers, as some of them no longer
have face-to-face contact.
What was once thought of as an impossible task has become the normal and has
helped to prove that jobs can be performed
anywhere as long as there is accountability and a plan of action to ensure the staff's
health and well-being. *

FALL 2020 | 55

The Bottom Line - Fall 2020

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