Open to opportunities

Paula Burkhammer

@paulaburkhammer

Message

Certified Medical Assistant with 20+ years in clinical and remote care coordination.

United States

Message

What I'm looking for

I seek roles leveraging clinical skills and remote coordination—prioritizing patient-centered care, telehealth, clear workflows, and collaborative teams where I can improve referral and authorization processes.

I am a Certified Medical Assistant (AAMA) with over 20 years supporting physicians, surgeons, and patients across surgical, internal medicine, and specialty care settings. I combine hands-on clinical skills with extensive remote care coordination experience to improve patient outcomes.

My recent role as a Patient Care and Referral Coordinator involved managing referrals end-to-end, processing prior authorizations, and coordinating care across multiple states while optimizing EMR workflows in Epic, eClinicalWorks, and AthenaOne. I excel at telehealth support, chronic care management, and DME setups.

Clinically, I am proficient in venipuncture, wound care, injections, specimen collection, and perioperative support for procedures such as vasectomies and cystoscopies. I also have experience in sterile processing, supply tracking, and patient education.

I bring strong HIPAA compliance, insurance verification, lab result tracking, and cross-functional collaboration skills. I am motivated to deliver seamless remote and in-person patient support and to streamline workflows that reduce friction for clinicians and patients alike.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Patient Care Coordinator

Lifepoint Health

Jan 2022 - Jun 2025 (3 years 5 months)

Coordinated remote care across multi-state primary care markets, managing referrals end-to-end and processing prior authorizations to ensure timely patient access to procedures and imaging. Optimized EMR workflows in Epic, eClinicalWorks, and AthenaOne and collaborated with clinicians across time zones to improve care coordination.

Patient Care Coordination Referrals Prior Authorizations Epic Telehealth Patient Scheduling

Certified Medical Assistant

Jackson Purchase Medical Center

Jun 2020 - Nov 2021 (1 year 5 months)

Supported Chief of Surgery with scheduling, call triage, referrals, and prior authorizations while assisting in surgical procedures and coordinating imaging and sterile processing to maintain operative readiness. Managed supply inventory and sterilization protocols to ensure compliance and efficiency.

Scheduling Triage)Referrals Prior Authorizations Sterile Processing Inventory Management Venipuncture Patient Education

Certified Medical Assistant

Millennium Physicians Group

Jun 2019 - Feb 2020 (8 months)

Conducted patient intakes, diagnostics, and medication administration while handling referrals, prior authorizations, insurance verifications, and test coordination to streamline patient care. Documented encounters in EMR and provided patient education to support treatment plans.

Patient Intake Diagnostics Referrals Prior Authorizations Insurance Verification Patient Education

Certified Medical Assistant

Executive Urology Specialist

May 2016 - Feb 2019 (2 years 9 months)

Assisted in urology procedures including vasectomies, cystoscopies, and BCG treatments, performing specimen collection, injections, and patient education to support clinical workflows. Maintained accurate documentation and ensured patient safety during procedures.

Specimen Collection Wound Care Patient Education Phlebotomy

Certified Medical Assistant

Firelands Physicians Group

Jan 2015 - Dec 2016 (1 year 11 months)

Provided clinical support across outpatient workflows including patient preparation, specimen collection, and basic diagnostic procedures to assist physicians and maintain clinic operations. Ensured HIPAA compliance and delivered patient-centered service.

Specimen Collection Phlebotomy Diagnostics HIPAA)Patient Scheduling Customer Service

STNA / PCA

Mercy Lorain Community Hospital

Jan 2001 - Dec 2012 (11 years 11 months)

Provided direct patient care as a nursing assistant, performing activities of daily living, basic clinical tasks, and patient monitoring to support inpatient care from 2001 to 2012. Maintained patient safety and dignity while assisting nursing staff.

Patient Care Vital Signs Documentation Patient Safety