After starting her company, nimble solutions, Lisa Rock endured uncertainty of getting the business off the ground. She had opportunities to set aside the risk and grind that come with starting something new and pursue other roles in the healthcare industry.
“In those days, when National Medical (now “nimble solutions”) was in its infancy, cash was tight, but with all the sacrifices I made to start the company, I didn’t want to give up,” Rock said. “Granted, those job offerings were enticing because they would’ve been so much easier for me and for my family, especially since someone else would’ve been taking on all the risks, but ultimately, I turned down the security of a steady paycheck and committed myself to my company.
“I didn’t want to give up. I didn’t want to let my clients down, my employees down, or let down all the people who believed in me, so I dug my heels in. I knew what I had to offer was unique. I trusted myself, leaned on the support of my family, empowered the smart team I put together, and went to work navigating the many challenges from security to compliance risks.”
Founded in 2003, nimble solutions provides revenue cycle outsourcing services to ambulatory surgery centers, physician practices and anesthesia groups nationwide. The company is headquartered in Chesterfield and has added other Missouri offices in Cuba and Osage Beach. It recently acquired four revenue cycle companies, allowing additional offerings to surgical clients, Strategies in Texas, National Billing Partners in Texas, Medi-Corp in New Jersey and MedTek in California.
One of the biggest challenges facing nimble solutions, and really all businesses, in this hiring environment is finding and retaining good employees. Under Rock’s leadership, the company has enacted several changes to address this hiring climate.
The company altered the traditional 40-hour work week, offering work-from-home or hybrid work opportunities. Rock launched the company’s Unplugged program, modeled after Iceland’s 30-hour work week, giving every employee every other Friday off.
“People simply need more time off to manage doctor appointments, school, and extra-curricular activities for their kids,” Rock said. “In my opinion, giving employees the opportunity to take off every other Friday to run errands or to simply unwind is a prime example of a forward-thinking company culture, and it’s one of the most forward-thinking policies we’ve ever offered.
“After implementing this program for a year and a half, we’ve found that it does not put any additional stress on the company, but it does attract and retain our talent.”