Associate Administrator
Tennessee Oncology
Nashville, Tennessee

Patti Garner is an Associate Administrator for Tennessee Oncology, a 37-physician oncology practice located in over twenty clinics in Middle Tennessee. Her primary responsibilities as Associate Administrator and Director of Business Services are in oncology management, billing, reimbursement and regulatory arenas for the group. Ms. Garner has had more than 18 years of progressive oncology healthcare management experience. Prior to joining Tennessee Oncology, she was Practice Administrator for a three-oncologist office near Nashville. In the 80’s, she served as Secretary to the Board of Directors and an Administrator for Biotherapeutics, a private for-profit oncology research company specializing in monoclonal antibody development and treatment.

Ms. Garner also works extensively with the Executive Management of Tennessee Oncology on new initiatives and has assisted in the development of the company’s diagnostic imaging facilities, stem cell transplant program, practice management and electronic medical records implementation and oral drug dispensing program. She is also a member of the Quality Assurance Committee and provides educational training for staff.

In 2001, Ms. Garner formed the Office Manager’s & Billers’ Group for the Tennessee State Oncology Practice Society and has served as President since 2001. She works closely with that organization’s physician board in assuring insurance and reimbursement issues are addressed. She is also very active in working in an oncology practice management consulting role with many of the state oncology practices.

Ms. Garner works closely with the development of reimbursement and assistance programs with several pharmaceutical companies including Eli Lilly, Genentech, Amgen, Ortho Biotech, Biogen Idec, and Novartis. She is currently on the Office Manager’s Speaker’s Bureau for Amgen, Biogen Idec and Novartis, and travels nationally giving presentations related to billing, reimbursement and regulatory issues.

In her spare time, Ms. Garner enjoys reading, traveling and spending time with family and friends. She is married with two grown children and lives in Franklin, Tennessee.