Patti L. Skalinski
Patti Skalinski has been in medical billing for 23 years.  For most of that time, she worked offsite and did not interact directly with patients.  For the last seven years, though, Ms. Skalinski has worked with Dr. Walker at the Oncology Center of Central Baltimore.  She reports that “It is much different here.  The office has a fun, relaxing atmosphere.  I believe the patients benefit from this as much as the staff does.”  Among her many duties as the medical biller for the center, one of the most important is the information she provides about how to navigate financial assistance programs. Ms. Skalinski recognizes that coming to an oncology office is not, and should not, be like a typical visit to a doctor’s office.   “The oncology patient spends several hours, on the most part, at an appointment.  Due to the time that patients spend with us, we all get to know them, and they get to know us, and all become part of a unique family.  We celebrate when a ‘family member’ gets married, has a baby, graduates, etc.  We also grieve when someone in the family passes … Simply put, we are there for one another.”

“Being here has given me a different perspective.  Billing is still my primary responsibility, but meeting and assisting the patients is so important to me.  I am no longer doing just a job – I am helping and that’s a good feeling.”