Today we’d like to introduce you to Renee Bush.
Hi Renee, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself
After having worked in the healthcare arena for a number of years, I first opened a medical billing company. With clients throughout the State of FL, we gained expertise working with both large medical groups snd community health centers in addition to small-medium-sized medical offices.
Our services expanded to offer a wide array of business support services. I had the awesome opportunity to work as a Sr. Business Intelligence Analyst for a Fortune 500 company still within the healthcare space. This opportunity really expanded my professional exposure on a national scale.
While in this role, I had the opportunity to work on a project that laid the groundwork for automating many of the manual submission processes that providers, medical groups, health plans, etc., followed when working with the CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid) and/or HRSA (Health Resource Services Administration) in order to submit reports and/or applications. That opportunity led to a coveted role as the Sr. Product Manager for the marquee product sold to top-tier health plans, etc throughout the country. In that role, I was in charge of crafting all national branding, marketing. and messaging, working with the sales team crafting proposals, and managing customer engagement.
The professional experiences, national exposure, and growth opportunities combined with educational pursuits further prepared me for my role as an Executive Director/CEO of a federally qualified network of community health centers. In that role, I was responsible for rebranding the organization, contract management, securing literally millions in grant funding and partnership dollars, federal reporting, expanding & managing the network’s footprint and service offerings, in addition to recruiting and managing the provider network.
Upon getting married in 2015, I decided to reorganize and restructure my company. We expanded the services beyond business support services to include supply chain, purchasing, inventory, and materials management. This positioned us to win a major, multi-year, multi-million dollar, international supply-chain/inventory management subcontract from a fortune 500 aerospace and defense company to support the refurbishing of the warfighter training centers for the Egyptian government.
Our company has had success and challenges. We currently have offices in Orlando and Jacksonville and clients in numerous business verticals (healthcare, aerospace and defense, federal/state/local, profit and non-profit, etc.).
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has not always been easy. We have won bids, we have lost on others. At the end of the day, win or lose, we step back to evaluate what worked and what didn’t so that we can grow and improve. We are always looking to expand. We had to completely regroup in late 2015 when our house was struck by lightning and burned completely.
A total loss. Was condemned by the fire marshall. I had just left the house only about an hour before the strike. My home office was also demolished in the fire. During this same time, my father’s health was failing and passed within a few months. I was really disappointed that he never had the opportunity to see the rebuilt home.
This was a very stressful time. At that time, but we stayed the course and came out on the other side. Successful.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about First Choice Management Services, Inc?
First Choice Management Services, Inc. (FCMS) helps organizations focus on their core competencies by providing a full range of business support services in the areas of program monitoring, project management operations compliance, and operations management, program evaluation/monitoring, supply chain management, supplier diversity and the administration & governance activities of healthcare organizations. We have a broad client base that includes organizations from multiple industries – healthcare, aerospace & defense, education, county/state/federal agencies, and profit/non-profit entities.
Specifically, within the healthcare vertical, a few of our program support modules include: New Patient Engagement, Medical Records Management, Patient Satisfaction Capture, Implementation of these modules for our clients can lead to 1. Reduced Disenrollment 2, Increased Patient Satisfaction Scores, and 3. Higher Capture of Patient Medical Records (from prior to their medical provider/specialist visits, etc.). By contracting with us to provide these services, we help clients achieve these results all while freeing up their current and/or in-office staff to focus on more client-facing concerns. Other programs also include Site Visit Preparation, Program Monitoring, Grant Administration, and Compliance.
Additionally, available services within our professional vertical include: Supply Chain, Procurement, Inventory & Materials Management, RFP/Bid Development, Project Evaluation & Management, Compliance, Operations Support, Meeting/Conference Facilitation and Documentation, etc.
FCMS invests in the people, the processes, the infrastructure, and the equipment so that our clients don’t have to. We are flexible and fluid enough to integrate with their personnel to provide select managed services either onsite/at their location(s), or we can take on the entire engagement remotely at ours. We help clients evaluate their support needs, and identify what model makes the most sense for their enterprise.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
* I married my husband, Michael Bush, in January 2015. He is a financial advisor and owns Michael Bush Financial. Services, an independent financial services agency. I have two stepdaughters and 4 amazing little humans who call me “GiGi”.
* I am currently a student at Cornell University and I am EXCITED about this business venture!! I am enrolled in the Bank of America Institute for Women’s Entrepreneurship at Cornell University. This program is ABSOLUTELY AWESOME!! The professors, guest speakers, curriculum, class discussions, class projects, etc., are all focused on helping to prepare women entrepreneurs to take their businesses to the next level, whatever that may be or look like. I am definitely here for all of this!
Is it a challenge to be running my business, taking classes, running a household, supporting food drives, and community service projects all while volunteering services for a worthwhile non-profit organization? YES !! Is it worth it? ABSOLUTELY… EVERY BIT OF IT !! I am committed to providing our clients with superior services and programs and growing the First Choice Management Services, Inc. (FCMS) client base, especially in Jacksonville, as well as, the State of FL and beyond. . FCMS is a Certified State of FL, Minority-Owned Woman Business.
* I am a proud Jacksonville native, born and raised. My siblings, nieces, nephews, and a lot of my extended family and friends are all here in Jacksonville. I grew up on the Eastside and attended Andrew Jackson Sr. High where I was a varsity cheerleader, and participated in several extracurricular programs.
* I earned my undergraduate degree at the University of Florida (Go Gators) and my Master’s degree in Management/Health Administration from Troy University where I graduated with honors. Additionally, I am nationally certified in Health Center Governance.
* I am an active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., where I have held leadership roles and chaired committees in both the Jacksonville and Orlando Alumnae Chapters.
Contact Info:
- Email: renee.bush@1stchoicems.com
- Website: http://www.1stchoicems.com
- Twitter: @1st_choicems
- Contact: (407) 776-8697
