Though relatively new to Tryon, Malikah Hodo is a veteran of revenue cycle management (RCM) and healthcare administration. Twenty-nine years ago, Malikah started her career in data entry and medical records, working for Medicaid in her home state of Wisconsin. Over the years, she has built an impressive resume in revenue generation and budget management, at one point serving as director of physician billing for the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago.
Malikah joined Tryon in January 2024 as director of revenue cycle, and shares her vision for the RCM department.
What drew you to Tryon?
I moved to Charlotte five years ago when the buzz about Tryon’s separation from Atrium Health was in the news. It seemed like an organization willing to make bold steps to do things differently.
I have had a lot of support from other team partners during the onboarding process. It’s not uncommon for healthcare practices to operate at a fast pace with leadership insisting that every project is a priority and has to be accomplished immediately. That makes it very hard to get anything done, especially done well. I am glad to say that my experience at Tryon has been extremely positive and not rushed. I’ve had the space and time to focus on getting my arms around the practice and this large department of 25 people. This has allowed me to be more intentional and methodical in planning for the future of RCM. I appreciate the nimbleness of the organization to allow that to happen.
What is your vision for the RCM department?
I think RCM is second only to the clinical team’s ability to provide services that ensure reimbursement. There are so many moving parts to RCM, and if those pieces are delayed or done incorrectly, it impacts the revenue the organization relies on to continue providing services.
Ultimately, my goal is to create a stronger connection between the RCM team and the clinical teams they support. Some people on the clinical side never get to the MSO to see who is working behind the scenes to ensure accurate billing and timely reimbursement. I envision a future where there’s collaboration in all things: RCM has a great working relationship with each location, and practice leadership can call their coder anytime to ask about followup.
It’s important to know that this process is going to require patience as we assess and reorganize. However, taking the time to do this work now will help us continue to be efficient and effective for years to come.