An Interview with Susan Gatehouse, Axea Solutions, Inc. Founder and CEO ‘We Look at Technology in a Holistic Manner with a Lens to the Future, to Help Clients Take a Proactive Approach to Complete Data Quality Management’

“Axea’s advanced technology for analyzing data helps to eliminate redundancy and powers healthcare facilities to generate accurate billing, in expedited time-frames.”

Technology is reshaping the healthcare industry. Because of technology, vast quantities of information are now accessible, but ensuring that information is accurate has become a tremendous challenge for many healthcare organizations and providers. Axea Solutions, Inc. has developed proprietary technology solutions to address and resolve these challenges and to help healthcare facilities meet on-going demands for accurate documentation, coding, and reimbursement.

Axea Solutions delivers expert revenue cycle services and technologies that enable healthcare organizations to improve clinical documentation and coding accuracy, enhance patient financial workflow, and boost financial success. For more than 20 years, Axea has worked with healthcare facilities and medical insurance providers to develop cost-effective financial solutions through detailed assessments, innovative methodologies, and multifaceted teaching strategies.

The company was incorporated in 1999 and is headquartered in Georgia, north of Atlanta, with satellite offices located throughout the U.S.

Susan Gatehouse, Axea Solutions, Inc. Founder/CEO spoke exclusively to The Silicon Review. Below is an excerpt.

Q.What was the initial goal in the founding of the company?

Axea Solutions was initially established to provide coding audit services, and since then it has introduced additional service lines to support complexities and increased compliance requirements around coding, and has continuously developed technology solutions for efficient, accurate improvements. Along the way, Axea quickly discovered the need in the industry for valuable training and education as part of a holistic approach to proper medical documentation and coding.

Q. What challenges did you face in your initial years? What can your peers learn from it?

The environment of the healthcare industry is continuously changing, and the company faced challenges to uphold the accuracy and quality of work in its commitments, while still providing a competitive price offering. Axea was able to overcome this challenge in large part by developing an industry-leading team of efficient and competent experts.

The company made it a priority to establish a core group of experts possessing different specializations within the industry. With this team of specialists, Axea has emerged as a leader in the industry, having the knowledge and experience to uncover hidden and dormant issues that affect financial outcomes at every stage of the revenue cycle.

Q. What is your company’s vision statement?

Axea Solutions was created on a simple vision: to provide superior value-added services by listening to and meeting the needs of clients, guided by a commitment to integrity.

One of the primary reasons Axea has been successful in achieving its vision is that it’s embedded in the organization’s corporate culture, with a consistent message to perform with integrity, and succeed on merit through the quality of the work.

Q. If you had to list five factors that have been/are the biggest asset to your organization, what would they be and why?

Though there are many contributing factors to the success of Axea Solutions, the top five factors that are the most significant assets to the organization would be:

People: The people within the company are unquestionably our most valuable asset. People have a direct effect on the quality of our work and the service provided to clients. People are one of the primary determinants of the success of any organization, and often times can be the most significant differentiator.

Collaboration: Collaboration inspires innovation and facilitates problem-solving. Collaboration is at the core of Axea’s corporate culture and has been critical to the evolution of the organization. Collaboration, whether it’s with employees, partners, or clients, drives efficiencies and will always result in the best outcome.

Training and Education: One of the foundational strengths of Axea is the education and training we provide to our clients and employees. Supporting on-going training expands the knowledge base of our team and strengthens the company as a whole.

Transparency: Transparency in business to some is considered a possible risk. However, if a company is run with integrity, then transparency will bring only positive results. Operating with openness and transparency creates a culture of trust and honesty, and promotes good old fashion competition – creating a stronger team.

Efficiency: From process improvements, communication, to technology, efficiency is vital. Efficiency helps us deliver a better product and provide the highest quality of service.

Q. What are the key factors that make your company stand out from the competition?

Our employee-first culture transcends to our clients – creating a client first approach. This cohesiveness, partnered with the company’s ability to be agile and flexible to clients’ needs gives Axea a unique competitive advantage, which has enabled the consistent growth of the organization.

Q. How does your company contribute to the global IT platform?

Axea’s advanced technology for analyzing data helps to eliminate redundancy and powers healthcare facilities to generate accurate billing, in expedited time-frames. The company systems provide connectivity between all parties, delivering total quality insights in real-time. Axea looks at technology in a holistic manner with a lens to the future, enabling clients to take a proactive approach to complete data quality management.

Q. Do you have any new products out in the market?

Axea recently rolled out Axea Academy™, an enhanced version of our learning management platform created to help clinical and coding professionals gain expertise in ICD-10, CPT, and E&M medical coding. With the onset of ICD and the importance of quality data, Axea has leveraged its continuous training efforts through Axea Academy™.

The online training courses and interactive learning tools in Axea Academy™ further enhance knowledge, quality, and productivity across coding and clinical teams, supporting hospitals, clinics, and physician practices, through:

• Self-paced lessons that are user-friendly and easy to navigate,
• Content developed and delivered by credentialed, industry expert instructors,
• An easy-to-complete education track for annual regulation updates,
• Real-time reporting for consistent evaluation of individual coders or coding teams,
• The ability to cross-train coders as well as specialty service line training, and
• Certification in Continuing Education Units (CEU’s) for AHIMA and AAPC

Axea’s multifaceted education strategies are designed to foster improved clinical documentation and coding accuracy, to streamline efficiencies, eliminate costly mistakes, and boost revenue.

Providing tailored flexibility, Axea supports both on site leadership through interim management and delivers virtual support with online resources.

Susan Gatehouse: A Formidable Leader

Susan Gatehouse, Founder, is the Chief Executive Officer of Axea Solutions Inc. She is the driving force that has propelled the success of the company. As a tenured expert with more than 20 years of experience in all aspects of the healthcare revenue cycle, her strategic leadership enables the Axea team to help clients overcome today’s complex financial management challenges – from documentation and coding quality to compliance and claims management – and improve the financial results for their organizations.

Ms. Gatehouse received a Health Information Management degree from Louisiana Tech University; her professional certifications include, RHIT, CCS, CPC, ICD-10 CM/PCS Certified Trainer.

“Collaboration is at the core of Axea’s corporate culture and has been critical to the evolution of the organization.”