Meet the Patient Advocate – Kimberly Gries

March 7, 2019

Kimberly Gries, Your Patient Advocate

Meet Kimberly Gries, an Altus Emergency Center Patient Advocate.

Kimberly Gries is your best friend after an emergency! At Altus Emergency, we go beyond getting you fast, quality care; we give you the Patient Advocates. Our ER Trained Physicians get you well, and our Patient Advocates help give you peace of mind. After receiving medical care, these caring, knowledgeable professionals help take the guesswork from deciphering the billing and insurance claim process. In an emergency center, having a stellar Patient Advocate department is especially crucial to ensure that each patient is cared for from the moment they walk in and get first-class ER care without the wait, to being available through the entire billing process. At Altus Emergency Centers, we are proud to have Kimberly Gries as our Patient Advocate for Baytown and Lake Jackson.

I highly recommend Altus for any emergency needs. The staff and doctors are amazing and very friendly. Any time myself or a family member has had to go we have always recieved a call to check on us afterward.

– David Money

The Patient Advocate is Your Spokesperson, Supporter, Guide & Patient Navigator

Altus Emergency Patient Advocate’s don’t hide behind a desk. They are Real People You Can Call.

Patient Advocates play an essential role in delivering quality medical care:

During your visit, we provide support and guidance
After your visit, we help ensure hassle-free billing.
In the event of insurance denial, we provide special customer care billing management services.

At Altus Emergency Center, we take pride in employing the most caring and experienced ER Healthcare Staff. We invite you to get to know Kim Gries, our friendly Patient Advocate serving Baytown and Lake Jackson. She’s here to help cut through the red tape and help find solutions. Meet the Patient Advocate is the latest in the series of Altus ER Staff articles dedicated to the amazing people behind what is #TeamAltusER: The Patient Comes First.

Patient Advocacy Simply Comes Natural to Kim

Get to know Kim Gries, she’s here to help you get the most from your insurance coverage. As a mother of two, Kim understands firsthand how important it is for Texas families to get hands on assistence when processing insurance claims. We had the pleasure of chatting with Kim and she shared about working at Altus Emergency and her lovely family. The following are highlights from our interview.

Get to Know this Houston Native

Q: “Tell us a little about yourself.”
A: Kim.

I was born in Houston, Texas and moves to Lake Jackson at the age of 12-ish. Growing up I was always a tomboy so fishing, roller blading and skinned knees were a usual thing for me. Having kids of my own now, I can only hope they have as much fun as I did, doing those sorts of things!

Today as an adult, my favorite things include gardening, reading, watching my kids play and spending time with my husband.

Q: “What about your studies and experience?”
A: Kim.

I was fortunate enough to attend Texas School of Business in 2007 with studies specializing in medical assisting. That ranges anywhere from working with medical insurance in any medical setting and front office work to blood draws and EKG’s. I really enjoy being on the clerical side, however.

I did my internship in a Neurosurgeon’s office where I was hired on and stayed for almost 9 years to be the surgery scheduler and help resolve patient concerns with insurance preauthorization and verification.

Q: “Why did you go into healthcare billing?“
A: Kim.

My mother worked as a medical biller for many years in a doctors office and it was always a familiar setting for me (ie. Take your kid to work day) so after high school it only felt natural to follow suit. It’s been interesting to say the least as everyday brings something new and enlightening to the table.

Q: “When did you start at Altus Emergency?“
A: Kim.

I began working at Altus Emergency Center in October 2018 at the registration desk. I am extremely thankful of this because I feel better rounded and have a better understanding of the entry and billing process of each patient that comes in. This I believe helps me see all angles better and lets me assist patients at the best of my abilities.

Q: “What do you love about being a part of the Altus Emergency Team?“
A: Kim.

The thing I love most about working at Altus is the people. Everyone here is so friendly and always willing to lend a helping hand or ear for that matter. It’s a well-oiled machine and everything runs so smoothly on a daily basis. You can really appreciate that kind of setting after being a stay at home mom for almost 3 years!

Q: “Last of all, what are your biggest accomplishments?“
A: Kim.

I’d say my biggest accomplishment would be overcoming some really hard times my husband and I have been through in the last few years, staying a strong married, loving couple and enjoying our 2 young children.

Thank you, Kimberly Gries, for allowing us to get to know you better.

It’s a blessing to have an ER near you, especially during a medical emergency. A trip to the emergency room shouldn’t be scary, not when it’s filled with caring professionals such as Kimberly Gries. Remember, if you are confused with the insurance process, you are not alone. Call Kim at the Patient Advocate’s office. She’s here to help you.