ST. LOUIS - Nov. 30, 2007- Sheila Washington has been named network vice-president of patient financial services at SSM Health Care-St. Louis.  She began her duties Nov. 12.

Washington, of South St. Louis County, has been with SSM Health Care - St.  Louis since 2004, having served as network vice president of revenue management/managed care finance.  Overall, she has spent 27 years in health care revenue cycle management, previously serving as a corporate controller, an interim chief financial officer and health care consultant.

In her new position, Washington will oversee SSM Health Care-St. Louis' entire revenue cycle operations from point of registration to billing processes to claim payment.

About SSM Health Care
With eight hospitals, nearly 2,000 staff physicians and 11,000 employees,SSM Health Care-St. Louis is committed to serving the comprehensive health needs of St. Louis area residents.  Sponsored by the Franciscan Sisters of Mary, the health care network includes: SSM Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center; SSM DePaul Health Center; SSM St. Joseph Health Center (St. Charles); SSM St. Joseph Health Center-Wentzville; SSM St. Joseph Hospital West (Lake Saint Louis); SSM St. Joseph Hospital of Kirkwood; SSM St. Mary's Health Center and SSM Rehab. The health care network also includes three medical groups: SSM St. Charles Clinic Medical Group, SSM Medical Group and SSM DePaul Medical Group. Its parent organization, SSM Health Care, also based in St. Louis, in 2002 became the first health care recipient of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. The system owns, operates and manages hospitals and nursing homes in four states: Missouri, Illinois, Wisconsin and Oklahoma.

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