Judy Colby: A Two-Decade Journey of Compassion and Expertise at Ohio’s Hospice
Judy Colby, preauthorization specialist at Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton, is celebrating 20 years with the not-for-profit organization.
In her role, she provides information to patients, families, and providers, such as hospitals, ambulance companies, and physician offices, about billing for patient services that have been done outside of our care facilities. When patients and their families receive a bill from an outside source, Judy works with them to let them know who is responsible for payment. She also contacts the outside provider to facilitate communication.
Judy began her career as a medical technologist. After gaining more experience in the business end of healthcare, she applied for a position at Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton. The organization offered her a different position — one, she says, that was written for her.
“It combined all the things I had done over many years,” Judy said. “I visited the Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton campus, and I was impressed by the facility and the people I talked to and what they were doing. I couldn’t believe something could be so geared to me. It was the perfect match.”
Judy often felt it was hard to find a career that combined her vastly different strengths of healthcare interest and an analytical mind.
When she started with Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton 20 years ago, the organization had just started using electronic medical records. “At that time, all of the prior authorization requests were done on paper,” Judy said. “Now, they are submitted electronically.”
The most rewarding part of her role with Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton is helping patients and families understand their financial responsibilities, such as tests and treatments.
“When I get a phone call from a patient or family member, they are concerned because they might have to pay a bill they weren’t expecting,” Judy said. “I am almost always able to make the situation better. Sometimes, it’s just the fact that I listen. Sometimes, I am able to reassure them that we will be covering the cost, and they don’t have to worry any more about that issue.”
Judy is committed to our mission to celebrate the lives of those we have the privilege of serving by providing superior care and superior services to each patient and family.
“I think that the whole idea of what the mission is all about makes a lot of sense. Hospice is something that is needed in the community,” Colby said. “Helping our patients and their families is rewarding.”
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