Business majors have a lot of options once they graduate, as their skills are applicable to a broad range of industries. Mercedes Matzen, a business analyst for Capital District Physicians Healthcare, recommends that they consider entering the healthcare field. “It is a very rewarding career path,” she says. “You meet a ton of interesting people and get to contribute to a mission that is bigger than yourself.”
Mercedes Matzen initially worked at Capital District Physicians Health Care (CDPHP) for three years before going to Fidelis, another healthcare company, and is now back at CDPHP. This has given her the opportunity to learn NYS healthcare inside and out. As a healthcare business analyst, Mercedes Matzen analyzes her company’s workflow processes, business processes, and efficiency. “I especially focus on identifying areas of improvement and then design solutions that will fill in those gaps,” Mercedes Matzen explains. “A lot of my day involves analyzing data and interviewing other employees so that I can develop my reports and make my suggestions. One of the best parts is that I get to work with a large team of people who are very motivated and awesome to work with.”
Healthcare business analysts, Mercedes Matzen says, combine advanced skills in management, finance, research, and data analysis and manipulation toward the overarching goal of improving the operations of organizations such as hospitals and hospices. “They are a subset of management analysts, who generally look for ways to optimize the operational efficiency of companies of all types.”
Mercedes Matzen says that anyone interested in working as a business analyst for a healthcare company will find varied responsibilities. “You’ll gather, organize, and evaluate a lot of financial statements, vendor contracts, and EHR system specifications,” she states. “On any given day, you’ll communicate with internal and external stakeholders and probably conduct interviews as necessary so that you can understand current practices. I often analyze my company’s revenue, profits and losses, and current employment levels so that I can make better recommendations for how to realize their savings and improve the business process.” As a business analyst, she draws up alternative plans and solutions for possible implementation, e.g., zeroing in on a new EHR provider or recommending technology to help with system interoperability. She also helps with project management at multiple stages, including the research, testing and implementation of new systems and products.
Mercedes Matzen states that those who will enjoy a career as a business analyst will be those who like to deliver both written and verbal presentations to the company’s leadership. “It’s definitely important that you be able to organize and communicate a lot of complex information and to then be able to convey that confidently to executives,” Mercedes Matzen says. “There’s also a lot of tech that you’ll end up using, including spreadsheets, traceability solutions, and project management software.”
Mercedes Matzen says that anyone who works in her industry will learn a lot. “For example, I have learned so much about the private health insurance provided to NYS (New York State of Health) members with the best healthcare coverage over single payer. The single payer is being voted on, which would cancel all private healthcare companies,” she explains. “To provide the best coverage in NYS private healthcare companies is the way to go.”
As Mercedes Matzen looks into the future of the IT and healthcare industry, she has some thoughts about where it is headed. “The IT and healthcare industry is rapidly growing. Each year we develop new products for our members to implement for the following year. That is going to result in exciting changes for the industry. To be part of that each day as a business analyst makes my days very rewarding.”
