Award-winning Discovery employee proves that small acts of accountability make a big impact

June 30, 2020 Discovery Health Partners
Award-winning Discovery employee proves that small acts of accountability make a big impact

When a company sets hefty goals to deliver profound client value and create highly engaged employees, it’s not enough to communicate those goals to everyone. To be transformational, every single employee must be 100% committed to contributing to the company’s goals. 

Discovery has invested in a comprehensive accountability model based on the concept that when people take personal ownership of the company’s goals and accept responsibility for their own performance, they work at a higher level to ensure their own success AND the company’s overall success. 

Working with the culture management firm Partners in Leadership, Discovery has built a culture of accountability by sponsoring training workshops and holding weekly small-group huddles that let employees work on the four best practices of accountability—recognizing when there are gaps in execution, fully and personally owning responsibilities and aligning them to the company’s key results, creatively and collaboratively working on solutions, and actively executing on the solution while building an environment of trust.

“As I like to say, accountability is every Discovery employee’s best friend,” says Phil Garrison, VP of Human Resources at Discovery and the executive sponsor of the company’s accountability program. “For each of us at Discovery, the principles of accountability give us easy-to-use tools to improve our individual work performance, share honest feedback with each other, and contribute very directly to the company’s overall goals.  The concepts are so foundational, they can even benefit us in our personal relationships.”

Discovery has integrated the model into many aspects of the company’s processes, onboarding, and expectations, and accountability is a cornerstone of the company’s culture. The company’s new Accountability in Action award is one example.

Each quarter, this award recognizes Discovery employees who demonstrate they have a stake in the company and go above and beyond to contribute to the company’s key results by living the “what else can I do?” attitude.

The first-ever recipient of Discovery’s new Accountability in Action award is Beverly Orwig, an MSP Recovery Specialist who has been with Discovery less than a year. 

Beverly received the award—which includes a cash reward, an extra day off with pay, and other perks—for a small gesture done consistently at a challenging time for her team. When COVID-19 hit, Beverly recognized that the pandemic was causing a lot of stress for her coworkers and they were struggling to keep a positive mindset. She asked herself what else she could do to stand out, to make a difference. Beverly took it upon herself to start each morning by posting a positive message to motivate her team, help them push through the challenges, and hit their goals. Focusing on how the team was reacting to the new environment caused by COVID-19, Beverly knew that it can be very hard for people to stay engaged, stay aligned to company goals, and maintain a connection with the team. Beverly’s positive communication among the team members promoted the understanding that the team had the ability and would be able overcome obstacles.

Commenting on receiving the award, Beverly says, “I was beaming—winning made such an impact on me! It made me realize that one individual employee can make such a big difference in the company. This company empowers me every day. It’s what makes Discovery who we are—everyone pushing each other to continue the momentum, to move forward in the same direction.”

Beverly credits her supervisor Shawn Daniels with inspiring her and driving her motivation. “I never want to disappoint him,” Beverly explains. “When he sets a goal for me, well, I’m going to push to overachieve that goal. He takes a personal interest in me and my success and is consistently available to help me.”

Beverly feels she is succeeding at Discovery because of the tools and transparency that the company provides. “Discovery gives me all the tools I need and empowers me to do my job every day,” she says. If I don’t know something, there’s transparent management all the way up to the top to get questions answered. It doesn’t get better than that.” 

“I want to be here…I want to come here every day. How many people can say that? I love coming to work every day.”

When she’s not demonstrating accountability at work, Beverly is a murder-mystery bookworm; enjoys Blues, jazz, and swing music; and spends weekends baking and cooking great dishes.

Discovery has built a culture of accountability throughout the company and created a quarterly award to recognize employees that have a stake in the company and go above and beyond by living the “what else can I do?” attitude.

Congratulations to Q1 2020 Accountability in Action award runners-up!

Christine Garcia, Accountability in Action award runner-up
“Christine works to get the issues fixed rather than come up with temporary solutions. She is in constant contact and responds within minutes, often working late to make sure issues are resolved.”
“Chad identified ways that Discovery’s platform could better support the business. He immediately took ownership and spearheaded the development of an app in record time—in addition to his day job.”

If you’d like to learn more about the steps to accountability and building this kind of culture at your organization, we recommend the book The Oz Principle.

Discovery Health PartnersAward-winning Discovery employee proves that small acts of accountability make a big impact
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Core values help Discovery’s Subrogation team navigate the pandemic

June 24, 2020 Breanna Zima
Core values help Discovery’s Subrogation team navigate the pandemic

The end of June marks National Subro Professionals’ Day—in honor of these experts, Discovery is celebrating the month of June by turning the spotlight on a few of our very own subrogation professionals who make a unique difference in the value we’re able to deliver to our clients.

Breanna Zima is a Subrogation Operations Manager. She is responsible for helping the Discovery Subrogation team deliver on the company’s core values, including reliable results, trusted quality, and profound client value. A member of the Discovery family for almost five years, Breanna shares with us how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted her personally and professionally.

At the Discovery holiday party last December, my fiancé and I took a picture wearing 2020 sunglasses. I was thinking “2020 is going to be the best year yet!” We’ve been together for 12 years, have been planning our wedding for over a year, and were almost at the finish line. Little did any of us know what was in store for us right around the corner. The COVID-19 pandemic rocked everyone to the core and created obstacles most never imagined. Two weeks into the reality of the pandemic, my fiancé and I were faced with the difficult decision to postpone our wedding. We were devastated. We allowed ourselves to be sad for a time, but then picked ourselves up and focused on what we can control. My work as a Subrogation Operations Manager at Discovery has helped me navigate through these tough times. 

Subro professional 2020

I manage the paralegals on the recovery side who review applicable statutes, analyze case law, and negotiate resolutions that are most favorable for our clients. The commercial, Medicaid, and Medicare lines that I manage require specific skill sets and adaptability, which is especially needed during these challenging times.  

Many of us don’t even realize how this pandemic has changed us as people. COVID-19 has tested my strength and ability as a leader. It has been hard to stay motivated. Not leaving your home for weeks at a time causes fatigue, pessimism, and a plethora of excuses NOT to do what we are responsible to do. What has helped me the most is staying organized and dedicated to my team members. I rely on them, and they rely on me. Period. 

Back in April 2019, the Discovery Subrogation department went through the transition of moving to a remote workforce. So when the pandemic hit, I naively thought there wouldn’t be much change for us as a team. But surprisingly, our team mentality has shifted its perspective in an immensely positive way. Conversations and support among teams has greatly increased, and we now host more video calls than ever before. It is great to start our meetings with friendly, smiling faces! I try to make it a point to spend time asking everyone how they are doing, really pausing for answers, discussion, and support for one another. 

Keeping our core values in mind—delivering reliable results, trusted quality, and profound value for our clients—is key for me to stay focused and positive on a daily basis. As the G.O.A.T. Michael Jordan says “If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.”  We’ve been using the pandemic as an opportunity to focus on pending and settled files and clearing those out. With our focus on recoveries, our team’s productivity has actually improved throughout the pandemic, and that’s showing up in recoveries for our clients. 

With many courts closed during the pandemic, our team has been picking up the phone and working with attorneys to resolve as many cases as we can. I’ve also been having more phone conversations with clients to add a human element to the conversations and make it more of a dialog and let them know we are here supporting them. And our offshore team has done an excellent job of reaching out to those we haven’t heard from in a while to get older files resolved.

I’ve noticed that parties are showing each other more compassion during negotiations and being more flexible. We’ve move from fax-based communications to emails so parties can negotiate back and forth more easily. We still have a lot of work to do, but I am proud to have the folks on the Subrogation team stand with me!

The pandemic has reinforced that I am a strong person and can handle whatever God places on my path, and I truly love this company and those who are a part of it. Most importantly, what keeps me going is my gratitude to have my career, a roof over my head, food on my table, and people in my life that have my back. 

We cannot anticipate what the rest of 2020 has in store for us, and given the climate of our nation, all I can hope for is that love spreads and positive change marches forward for everyone. What I do know is that throughout Discovery’s history, we have found ways to build strong bonds, overcome obstacles, and stay positive. I know we will continue to do so!

To learn more about what makes Discovery’s Subrogation solution unique, visit our Subrogation page or contact our team today.

Breanna ZimaCore values help Discovery’s Subrogation team navigate the pandemic
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Discovery Subrogation is where I find my passion

June 16, 2020 Lisa Baldwin
Discovery Subrogation is where I find my passion

The end of June marks National Subro Professionals’ Day—in honor of these experts, Discovery is celebrating the month of June by spotlighting some of our very own Subrogation professionals who make a unique difference in the value we’re able to deliver to our clients.

Lisa Baldwin is a Subrogation Operations Team Lead. She is responsible for helping the Discovery Subrogation organization deliver on the company’s core values, including reliable results, trusted quality, and profound client value. A member of the Discovery family for two years, Lisa shares how Discovery has fed her passion for subrogation. 

To quote Bishop T. D. Jakes, “If you can’t figure out your purpose, figure out your passion. For your passion will lead you right into your purpose.” I know that’s true in my personal life, because managing a Kiss tribute band with my husband allows me to enjoy my passion for that type of music. I’ve also learned this to be true in my professional life. I found that my love for the legal field and negotiations has made subrogation a perfect professional fit for me.  

With six years of subrogation experience under my belt, it’s apparent that I’ve found my passion! At Discovery, I am able to share what I’ve learned to help the company shine. One of the reasons I came to Discovery was for the opportunity to help grow and mature our subrogation practice. The transition was perfect because we have a very diversified employee base of people like me who are working together toward continuously implementing best-practice processes and procedures, instead of just sticking with the status quo.

Now in my second year with Discovery, in March I became team lead. This is a newer role that was created for the purpose of focusing on productivity. I have responsibility for day-to-day activities with the subrogation specialists, and I also handle files as a Senior Paralegal. This has helped the team become more efficient so we can expedite the whole process for clients. We also work with the IT department to do user acceptance testing to ensure proper functionality of our processes and procedures prior to them going into live production. This improves the capabilities of our case management platforms, which also benefits clients.  

Being a mid-sized company in the subrogation world has lot of advantages. It gives employees equal opportunities to help shape our success and contribute ideas. It requires a lot of hard work, but here at Discovery, we collectively pull together and work to find the best solutions for the issues at hand. We are always working to find ways to deliver more value for our clients. 

In our Subrogation organization, we have an Idea Forum that’s open for everyone to submit their ideas for management to review and potentially implement. I must admit, I love the challenge of coming up with new ideas and then finding out one of my ideas was chosen! Some of the successful policies and procedures that I brought to the Idea Forum are already being implemented in our department. One of these is holding team lead roundtables where we bring in paralegals and leverage their knowledge, review case files, and discuss issues. These roundtables help us leverage our in-house subrogation expertise, level up our team’s knowledge, and, ultimately, serve our customers more effectively. 

It’s very rewarding to be able to contribute to progress and efficiencies within the Discovery Subro organization. Our leadership is very focused on engaging the whole team to ensure we’re bringing our best responses and results to our clients. It’s amazing to experience all the ways the Discovery Subro organization feeds my professional passion and encourages that passion to grow!

To learn more about what makes Discovery’s Subrogation solution unique, visit our Subrogation page or contact our team today.

Lisa BaldwinDiscovery Subrogation is where I find my passion
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Thriving during unsettling times

June 11, 2020 Heather Rodemann ,
Thriving during unsettling times

At the beginning of 2020, I had the pleasure of being interviewed by Authority Magazine on the things I do to thrive in the areas of body, mind, and heart. 

You can read the full interview here. 

Oh boy, how the world has changed since January! From the COVID-19 pandemic and shelter-in-place orders to racial injustices and protests, we live in an unsettling and different world. 

As I reflect on how I answered the question “how do I thrive?” in the original interview, it’s comforting to see that some of the things I hold most dear—Friday pizza night dates with my husband, family time, red wine!—are the same things that sustain me in our new world order. Of course, I’ve had to add some creative tweaks to my routine, but I’ve also found some new ways to continue to thrive amid COVID and this time of uncertainty.

I’ve captured my updated thoughts in this video—I hope you enjoy and find some inspiration that helps you to thrive!

Heather RodemannThriving during unsettling times
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Discovery Subrogation is like a family

June 4, 2020 Sarah Kawash
Discovery Subrogation is like a family

The end of June marks National Subro Professionals’ Day—in honor of these experts, Discovery is celebrating the month of June by spotlighting some of our very own Subrogation professionals who make a unique difference in the value we’re able to deliver to our clients.

Sarah Kawash is Discovery’s Subrogation Specialist Manager. Sarah leads the onshore and offshore Subrogation Specialists in case development work and is responsible for helping her team deliver on the company’s core values, including reliable results, trusted quality, and profound client value. A member of the Discovery team for over six years, Sarah shares with us why Discovery continues to feel like a family.

Discovery Subrogation feels like a family

I always say that I’ve grown up at Discovery over the past 6 years, and my second family has been right here beside me the whole time. When I started at Discovery, I was fresh out of college with only prior restaurant work on my resume. Discovery introduced me to individuals that took me under their wing and showed me what corporate life was all about. The company has grown exponentially since I started in 2014, but the closeness I have always felt within the Subrogation department has not changed at all. While we are all here working to support our company and our clients, we’re also here to support our teams and each other. 

Like a family does, our Discovery team celebrates accomplishments and milestones—whether it’s hitting metrics for the week, learning a new client, welcoming grandbabies, buying a new house—we’re all here, cheering each other on. I learned early on that my relationships with coworkers didn’t have to stop at business-related things.  Right away I experienced the support we give each other on everything, always.

The past few years, my Subro family and I have gone through it all together. When we raised performance metrics for our Subro Specialists, some of the team’s initial reaction was that the new targets weren’t achievable. Others on the team stepped up and cheered on those who were in doubt, offering support by motivating and convincing them we could not just meet, but exceed the new targets by applying our great work ethic. Now a year after the new goal was established, the team as a whole is overperforming on average and we continue to push and support each other to hit even higher. 

Discovery is very committed to setting and meeting high quality standards for our clients. Over the last nine months, the entire Subro team (not just the Specialists) have hit above and beyond our quality goals! One reason we’ve been able to accomplish this is because when someone is struggling, the teams work with one another, helping each other out, showing they have faith in their abilities and believe they can do it and achieve their goals. And the times when everyone on the team hits their individual goals—well, then it’s a real party and truly a celebration for us all! 

There are also the challenging times, to be sure. When things like the global pandemic take over our personal and professional lives, it’s easy to be negative. What I’ve seen from my Discovery family is that they’ll always do whatever it takes to help us stay positive. I am not saying negativity or going below the line doesn’t happen, but it never lasts long. We are truly all in it together—listening, learning, and pushing through.

Work goals and metrics aside, the personal support I see and feel from my coworker family shines the brightest. Two years ago, one of our Paralegals passed away—she was like my second mom. A few weeks ago, we lost yet another Paralegal—again, she was like family. Each time was hard, and I would be lying if I said it has gotten easier. It never will. Having such a close-knit work family—everyone coming together, telling stories, sharing pictures, reaching out, praying for each other—it makes the hardest things bearable. The texts and chats of people extending a hand or just reaching out to see if you are okay, these are moments I will treasure and remember forever.

Like most families, we know how to have a good time and celebrate here at Discovery! When one of our own was deployed this past April, the team gathered for a virtual happy hour to send her off. Additionally, one of the ladies on the team just became a grandmother for the first time—I absolutely love receiving texts of grandbaby pictures! If I’m having a bad day or just need to vent, I know I can message one of my peers and they’ll talk it out with me. I’ve gained so many close friends since my start at Discovery, and no doubt there will be more to come.

We all came to Discovery for a job, a career. I stay for the family I never expected to gain.

Sarah KawashDiscovery Subrogation is like a family
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Food for thought—an ingredient for good health

May 21, 2020 James Heffernan
Food for thought—an ingredient for good health

Today’s blog post is the third in a special series of posts that celebrates the month of May as Global Employee Health and Fitness Month, the international observance of health and fitness in the workplace. Our series, titled “Mind, body, and stomach,” is the work of Jim Heffernan, senior accountant at Discovery and Employee Wellness Committee ambassador.

I do love me some food! I believe you could deep-fry just about anything and it would taste great. I know it’s not good for me, but it just tastes so good! Growing up in an Italian household probably didn’t help me learn how to make good food choices. When you are surrounded by breads and pastas and wonderful desserts, it’s not easy to pick healthier options to snack on.

The first wealth is health -Ralph Waldo Emerson

Over the years, I’ve come to realize how important it is to incorporate healthier foods into my diet. Healthier foods help maintain a healthy body weight, increase proper nutrition, and promote an overall healthy body. Try some of these easy tips to improve your diet today!

Increase fruits and vegetables

A diet rich in fruits and vegetables is known to lower blood pressure, reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke, decrease digestive problems, and even prevent some types of cancer. Fruits and vegetables provide essential nutrients that can improve the health of your body. 

Need some ideas on how to increase your intake? Add roasted veggies to your meal. Find seasonal vegetables, sprinkle with olive oil, and roast them up. Stack veggies on your sandwich. Most people already add lettuce and tomatoes, but consider slicing up a cucumber or shredding a carrot and adding it to your sandwich. Make it a lettuce wrap and swap out the bread altogether! Add fresh fruit to your cereal or oatmeal in the morning, or pair fruits with cheese and a good glass of wine for an evening treat. 

Good carbs to eat

Carbohydrates are one of the body’s primary sources of energy and are an essential part of a healthy diet. A healthy diet should include more complex carbohydrates than simple carbohydrates. Complex carbohydrates are high in fiber and starch and take longer for the body to digest. They contain more essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Examples include grains, beans, and oats. Simple carbohydrates contain natural sugars easily digested by the body to provide quick energy. Examples of good simple carbs include fruits, vegetables, milk and milk products. Some examples of bad simple carbs include refined foods like soda, white sugar, and pastries. These are the items that should be a very limited part of your diet.

When you are cooking, try to use brown rice instead of white. Brown rice is a whole grain and higher in fiber than white rice, which has been processed. Brown rice also helps lower cholesterol, promotes fullness, and can help prevent blood clots. Another good carb to incorporate are vegetables, as mentioned above. Try baking a sweet potato or adding a side of roasted vegetables. You can’t go wrong with a simple side salad either—vegetable combinations are endless.

Water, water, water

Did you know that water carries nutrients to the cells in your body and oxygen to the brain? It helps the body absorb vitamins and minerals essential to the function of your organs. Water also helps regulate the body’s temperature and maintain bodily functions. It can boost skin health and lubricate joints, promoting beauty and reducing pain. Water is also a main component of the digestive system, converting food into energy and excreting waste from the body. 

You might be thinking it’s boring to drink a simple glass of water. Well, it can be. But did you know there are many food options high in water content? Cucumbers, tomatoes, and spinach are over 93% water. Melon, apples, and oranges are over 85% water. Besides the water consumption, these fruits and vegetables are good sources of the daily nutrients our bodies need. I bet you could grab a few off this list of top hydrating foods and toss them together to make a delicious salad or fruit plate! 

Healthy snacks  

Another way to maintain a healthy diet is to add healthy snacks to your day. Healthy snacks can increase your energy level and help you lose weight. They can improve your concentration, increase memory, and enhance awareness. Be prepared—have an assortment of healthy options available to keep you on track. Examples of healthy snacks include an apple or carrot sticks. Grab a handful of cashews. Have a bowl of cottage cheese and add some berries. Looking for additional snack ideas? Check out SnackNation’s list of healthy and filling snacks.

In addition to these tips, keep in mind it’s not always what you eat, but how! You need to get to the root of your nutritional imbalances. It’s not always where you go for lunch, but how often you go and what you choose to eat. Are you eating food too close to bedtime on a regular basis? Are weekends becoming your cheat days and causing you to binge on unhealthy foods? Mindful eating can even be as simple as looking at how quickly or slowly you eat your meals. There are many factors to look at when trying to sustain a healthy diet. Just remember, baby steps—Rome wasn’t built in a day.

Find out more about Global Employee Health and Fitness Month here.

James HeffernanFood for thought—an ingredient for good health
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The body issue—because we all have one

May 13, 2020 James Heffernan
The body issue—because we all have one

Today’s blog post is the second in a special series of posts that celebrates the month of May as Global Employee Health and Fitness Month, the international observance of health and fitness in the workplace. Our series, titled “Mind, body, and stomach,” is the work of Jim Heffernan, senior accountant at Discovery and ambassador of our Employee Wellness Committee.

Not everyone loves the physical cards they were dealt. Believe me, I sure don’t! But there are so many things we can do to change that. First, it starts with your mental approach. You have to get in the right mindset to change the body.

Exercise can make you feel happier. It has been shown to improve mood and decrease feelings of depression and anxiety. It helps build stronger muscles and bones, helping to reduce injuries and prevent osteoporosis later in life. Exercise can increase your energy levels and reduce feelings of fatigue. It can reduce your risk of chronic disease and improve brain function. And, obviously, it can help with weight loss. According to the CDC, many people sit at a desk all day, making us much more sedentary and leading to weight gain and other medical problems.

excuses don't burn calories

Just because you might be working from home, don’t have access to a gym, or don’t have all the professional equipment doesn’t mean you can’t get a good workout. Sometimes you just have to be a bit creative. Here are some creative workout ideas that might inspire you.

Walking

Sounds very easy—and it is. Grab your favorite shoes and go for a walk. You might even want to invite a friend along so you can encourage each other. Walking can improve your mood and reduce anger and hostility. It will help you burn calories and is one of the best low-impact ways to change your body composition. Walking can boost your immunity and reduce your risk of disease.

Resistance training

Resistance training is a physical activity that is designed to improve your muscular fitness and endurance. Usually this training incorporates weights or tension bands into the workout. But let’s say you don’t have access to weights or bands—then what are your options? Try doing exercises that utilize your own body weight. Try push ups, sit ups, jumping jacks, squats. You can even do exercises while holding household items. One good exercise to strengthen your core is planking. Planking engages many muscles across the whole body to improve posture, increase muscle definition, and improve balance. There are always opportunities when at home to get a good workout. Check out this article for additional workout tips.

Yoga and Pilates

Yoga is a form of exercise that focuses on breath control, simple meditation, and body posturing for improved health and relaxation. Its purpose is to bring the body, mind, and environment into harmony. Some benefits of yoga include increased flexibility, muscle strength, and improved respiration. Check out this beginner-level yoga workout.

Pilates consists of low-impact flexibility and muscular strength and endurance movements. Its purpose is to increase muscle strength, particularly in the abdomen or core. Some benefits include a total-body workout, improved posture, and decreased pressure on your knees and joints. Check out this beginner-level Pilates workout.

Extra creative workout ideas

Do you like to dance? Even if you don’t, try putting on some fun music and dance like nobody’s watching. It’s a great way to get your heart rate up, burn calories, and improve muscle tone. Or try boxing/kickboxing. You can take a class or just set up a weighted bag in your house and throw some punches. It’s my favorite way to relieve stress! How about housework? I’m not a fan of cleaning the house, but adding some loud music can make it fun and help burn some extra calories. If these ideas don’t appeal to you, you can find all kinds of free workout videos online. Find one you like and try it!

Incorporating exercise into your daily routine does not have to be difficult or time-consuming. You don’t have to spends hours in a gym lifting huge weights to improve your overall appearance. You just have to find something you are interested in and stick to it. Make your workouts fun and change them up as needed. Set goals, encourage yourself, and achieve them. In time, you will see a difference, feel better, and—most importantly—improve your overall health.

Find out more about Global Employee Health and Fitness Month here.

James HeffernanThe body issue—because we all have one
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