Your Name: Aleshia Silva
Business Name: Graceful Beginnings Healthcare Consulting Services, LLC, a medical billing company for medical practices
Type of Business: Medical Billing
Business Location: Sierra Vista, Arizona, United States
Website www.gbhcs.com
Twitter https://twitter.com/#!/GracefulBHCS
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/GracefulBHCS
Pinterest http://pinterest.com/gracefulbhcs
Reason for starting
After many years of working for doctor’s offices, I decided it was time to start my own medical billing company. I have built a billing department from ground up and I have worked where the billing department was already set up. In the end, I learned that no matter what type of practice I worked for I would never reap the reward as I would in owning my own company. The same knowledge that helped me to make the doctor’s offices I worked for successful, I now use to make my own clients successful and more. The healthcare industry is constantly changing and for awhile I felt like I had to fight my way to be heard and make physicians aware of these changes. Now instead of being afraid of being fired for speaking up against something that is fraudulent or unethical, I can and providers can actually appreciate that and respect that I am there to help them.
How do you define success?
I believe that success begins with defining who you are and why you do what you do. I had to look at myself and realize that I could do anything I put my mind to and believing that as I continued to work hard everything would pay off. Understanding the industry helps, but if you do not believe in yourself, how can anyone else believe in you. I look at this when I am marketing or talking to both prospective and current clients. I love what I do and in loving what I do I help others.
Biggest Success
The biggest success for me has been pursuing my dream of owning and operating my own business. This was something I had thought about for years, but never thought I would be able to do it. I am very glad that I was able to put fear aside and take a leap of faith to go out on my own.
What is your top challenge and how have you addressed it?
The top challenge I have encountered is my billing company being compared or judged based on the “sour taste” of another billing company. There are some, like my billing company, who really are there to help the provider succeed and to know that they have a partner. At Graceful Beginnings, we make it plain and simple, we are there at the needs of the provider. It is a tough line to sell because so many providers have been burned, but we still feel like there is a chance for us to help.
Who is your most important role model?
The most important role model is by far my mother. I could not be here doing this without her believing in me and my abilities. She has taught me a lot and the more I talk to her the more I learn about myself. I am so very thankful for her and the words of wisdom she provides to me. Even when it feels like chaos, she is there encouraging me and being supportive. My mom has been here every step of the way and I will forever be grateful for everything she has done for me.