Project Mentor: Professor EJ Rovella, College of Health
Project Description:
Weeks after going to the doctor’s office, patients often receive a bill asking for money with very little information. Even the most medically literate have a difficult time understanding patient bills. It is not uncommon for patients, or the parents of young patients, to receive incorrect or overinflated bills. Would it not be great if we could use technology to help anyone understand what was going on? This project will push this concept towards reality. Team members will be mentored in the concepts and process of healthcare billing as they build interconnected data resources to solve patient bill questions. Healthcare organizations across the Lehigh Valley will be resources for the team to help build insight and relationships. Goals for this year include identifying the financial information needs of patients with an emphasis on vulnerable populations, collecting data resources, and building a logic platform. Future goals include the expansion of transparency in market billing practices and insurance payments to guide populations to the best resources. All majors are welcome to apply. The best candidates will be motivated to take on the social challenge of opaque patient billing and / or driven to build a new technological platform. Some computer skills will be helpful, but an independent desire to learn is more important.