ClaimTek Medical Billing Success Stories

PART-TIME WORK, FULL-TIME DREAMS

Coral Springs, Fla. biller finds quick success

A part-time start is leading to a new full-time life for Julie Delongy.

Complete Medical Services of Coral Springs, Fla. is the latest affiliate of ClaimTek Systems that has grown into a flourishing business in just 15 months. A billing manager for a Ft. Lauderdale surgical practice, Delongy handles seven other medical firms in just 15 hours weekly. It won't be long before she doubles her clients base.

Delongy, 42, opened her company in March 2006 after seeing many doctors barely stay financially afloat because of poor billing practices. They just needed someone competent who understood the billing codes and procedures.

"So many practices I knew outside of my own were struggling because the people who were doing the billing didn't know what they were doing," Delongy said. "I know how to do it correctly so I said let me see if I can offer my services."

It started with a cardiac practice, spread to a vascular surgeon and then to a physical therapist, OB-GYN, pediatrician and internist. Each firm requires its own special coding, but Delongy discovered learning different medical terminology wasn't difficult.

"It does get interesting because different practices have difference issues, different codes," she said.

Delongy became a savior to doctors with six-figure overdue receivables. One doctor nearly closed after losing money for seven years before Delongy turned around his finances while another firm saw its $300,000 in outstanding accounts soon greatly shrink.

The doctors problems show the open market for electronic medical billing. Speed and accuracy are so missing in many billing firms using untrained personnel and outdated software. Competent and hard-working billers like Delongy aren't short on business.

"Doctors don't know enough about billing themselves so they rely on other people and other people don't know enough or keep up on the trends," Delongy said. "The doctors biggest complaint was they were tired of losing money. Some billers have the gift of b.s. that they can tell the doctor what he wants to hear, but that doesn't mean they know what they're doing. When the pen meets the paper it's not there."

Armed with an increasing clientele, Delongy went looking for the state-of-the-art software to base her new company's future. She found it with ClaimTek System's MedOffice. The modern windows-based system was easy to learn for Delongy, who said even computer novices could quickly pick it up.

"Even if you never worked on a computer before, once you do your 12 hours with a trainer you'll know what you'll do," she said. "It's menu driven with picture icons and words -- a little bit of everything to make you as comfortable as possible.

"I've used other systems and I chose ClaimTek because I felt they gave you the most for your money. You could spend $20,000-$30,000 on a system that may not be as comprehensive. Most people starting out don't have that kind of outlay so try to get the best you can with the money you have. ClaimTek was very reasonably priced for an advanced system and no support problems either. They always take care of me right away."

Delongy and her partner, Olga Toledo, feel word of mouth advertising inside the medical community is behind their continued expansion. It won't be long before both gain complete financial freedom behind their new franchise.

"In maybe another year, we'll have 15 to 20 accounts," Delongy said.

And then Delongy can enjoy the beach near her house a little more often.