October 3, 2021

Judy Hirschfeld, RN, Utilization Review

Central, Life@Work

Healthcare has always been in my family. My sister and aunt work at the St. Cloud VA Medical Center, my brother, like me, is a nurse, and my mom works at St. Cloud Hospital in Health Information Management. Being able to help people in need was what attracted me to nursing. I started my career as a public health nurse for Stearns County and then joined CentraCare where I work in Utilization Review.

My role is mostly behind the scenes. Our team works to make sure that patients are billed correctly, because that can be such a burden for people. We also help make sure patients are getting the correct level of care and then work to make sure the hospital is getting the proper reimbursement for that care. When patients have questions about their bill, or need help coordinating care for a loved one, we can also help by connecting them to the right resources.

What I love most about my work is I get to be a patient advocate. The healthcare system can be complicated and when a patient is in the hospital, they’re often not feeling their best. If they get home and receive a bill that they don’t understand, it can cause even more anxiety and stress. Fortunately, I’m in a position where I can help answer questions, ease some of their concerns, and make the process easier for them.  That’s what’s most rewarding to me.