36 years ago, Janet Lester started her career at Custom Data Services – a company she’s called home ever since. Over the years, she has handled a wide variety of jobs for the medical billing agency, learning the ins and outs of the business and gradually working her way into leadership roles.
Lester currently serves as the company’s physician services manager. In that role, she works to ensure that every client of theirs – that is the doctors and other healthcare providers that serve the community - are paid appropriately for their services by insurance companies, while also addressing patient concerns.
“I really enjoy being able to collect the most money possible for our physicians,” Lester said. “I know they work really hard, and at the end of the day it’s nice to see something you’ve worked so hard on comes through and gets paid.”
Lester noted that patient’s medical bills often appear misleading – giving blanket totals without specifying where their money is going. Part of her job is to demystify the process – for both the patient and physician.
“Say a patient gets a $500 bill for an x-ray, it might look like that money is all going to the doctor but that isn’t really the case,” she said. “The insurance company might’ve only allowed them $100. Doctors often aren’t receiving as much as you would expect, and that’s why I really enjoy ensuring they get paid for helping these patients.”
During her time at Custom Data Services, Lester has built a strong reputation among her colleagues as both an excellent leader and fantastic friend.
“I’ve had the privilege of working with Janet for over 30 years,” said Melessia Tabla, department manager for insurance follow-up at Custom Data Services. “She’s not only my co-worker, but one of my best friends. She’s kind, smart, supportive, and just fun to be around. These qualities make her an ideal manager for her staff and for her clients.”
Hulah Gorby, coding manager, echoed Tabla’s thoughts.
“She’s very upbeat, friendly, and always bears hardship with a positive attitude,” she said. “It makes her an excellent mediator between the client and company.”
Ann Patterson, billing clerk, is a long-time team member of Lester’s and expressed admiration for her leadership.
“In all the time we’ve worked together, she’s led our department with poise and professionalism,” Patterson said. “She’s always been someone our clients and staff feel comfortable communicating with, while handling their concerns quickly and with care.”
For her part, Lester was quick to give credit to the entire Custom Data Services team for their successes over the years.
“The other thing I really enjoy about my job is the team that I work with,” she said. “It’s just amazing, and my bosses are phenomenal. You feel like you work with them, not for them and that’s so crucial for people to understand.”
To learn more about Custom Data Services, Inc., visit www.cds.care.