Unnat Patel

Library · Evidence · 14 minutes

Industry reference journeys

The work across the whole journey.

Explore the handoffs, technical considerations and contributions from separate projects. These are generalized industry references, not employer system diagrams. Measures are illustrative, not achieved results; proposed designs and work in progress are identified separately.

01

The prescription lifecycle — the work, handoffs and my contributions.

8 stages: generalized incomplete work and visibility across the prescription lifecycle.

Under each stage, a red-edged chip holds what it had to handle and the blue rail marks the related product contributions. Each card ends with illustrative measures, not achieved results.

  • Uncertainty: what each stage had to handle
  • Made visible: related product contributions
  1. 01 Intake

    Channel differences affect data quality and traceability.

    I investigated a renewal-related defect.

    The full account of 01 Intake

    Stage 1 · Intake

    Contributions and requirements

    • I investigated a renewal-related defect that created unnecessary work and contributed intake requirements for a customer migration.

    Involves

    Electronic prescriptions, images and transfers.

    Illustrative measures

    Volume by channel; renewal success rate; time in queue; intake defects per thousand.

    Measured byIntake defectsper thousand, with renewal success rate

    Images and transfersRequire their own interpretation, made visible

  2. 02 Prescription processing

    OCR and machine learning can extract information from images.

    I worked on pairing automation coverage with quality evaluation.

    The full account of 02 Prescription processing

    Stage 2 · Prescription processing

    Contributions and requirements

    • I worked on prescription data-entry assistance, pairing automation coverage with quality evaluation and operator feedback.

    Illustrative measures

    Net automation rate paired with downstream error rate; time to typed; feedback tickets closed.

    Measured byNet automation ratepaired with downstream error rate

    Extracted informationStill needs appropriate evaluation, made visible

  3. 03 Clinical verification

    A qualified pharmacist reviews relevant information.

    I helped modernize a pharmacist verification experience.

    The full account of 03 Clinical verification

    Stage 3 · Clinical verification

    Contributions and requirements

    • I helped modernize a pharmacist verification experience and its supporting checks. Historical comparisons, responsiveness and professional effort informed readiness.
    • I treated alert fatigue as a cause-analysis problem rather than broad suppression; this optimization program is work in progress.

    Involves

    Relevant information, drug-data checks and pharmacist review.

    Illustrative measures

    Transactions per hour per pharmacist; automated-success rate; manual-review rate; alerts per prescription; latency p50/p90.

    Measured byManual-review ratewith automated-success rate and latency

    Alert fatigueA cause-analysis problem, not broad suppression, made visible

  4. 04 Controlled-substance checks

    A product must make responsibility and uncertainty clear.

    I developed requirements for verification capabilities.

    The full account of 04 Controlled-substance checks

    Stage 4 · Controlled-substance & red-flag checks

    Contributions and requirements

    • I developed requirements for verification capabilities and worked with specialist partners to interpret applicable obligations.
    • I scoped bounded self-service improvements so professionals could complete appropriate work without unnecessary engineering dependency.

    Involves

    Applicable rules, professional verification and clear responsibility.

    Illustrative measures

    Manual checks avoided; false-positive rate on flags; time to clear; risk score by failure mode.

    Measured byManual checks avoidedwith false-positive rate on flags

    Applicable obligationsNeed specialist interpretation, made visible

  5. 05 Billing & adjudication

    Rejections require understanding the reason and the appropriate next action.

    Production billing support after a pilot and phased rollout.

    The full account of 05 Billing & adjudication

    Stage 5 · Billing & adjudication

    Contributions and requirements

    • Billing support is in production after a pilot and phased rollout. Correction controls depend on the workflow.
    • I used actuals to refine the projected savings opportunity and written requirements to explain the exceptions.

    Illustrative measures

    Paid-on-first-pass rate; billing tasks per month; cost to fill per unit.

    Measured byPaid-on-first-pass ratewith cost to fill per unit

    A proposed correctionIs not proof of a successful outcome, made visible

  6. 06 Fulfillment

    Changes in relevant context can require qualified review.

    I analyzed earlier review context against later activity.

    The full account of 06 Fulfillment

    Stage 6 · Fulfillment

    Contributions and requirements

    • I analyzed differences between earlier review context and later activity, then aligned requirements with clinical and operational partners.
    • I worked on clear handling of unresolved conditions and the experience of the customer affected.

    Illustrative measures

    Reviews completed; cancellation rate; promise-time attainment; orders saved.

    Measured byPromise-time attainmentwith reviews completed and orders saved

    Unresolved conditionsNeed clear handling for the customer affected, made visible

  7. 07 Patient care

    Clinical questions require appropriate professional authority.

    I shaped customer-care assistance around checkable suggestions.

    The full account of 07 Patient care

    Stage 7 · Patient care

    Contributions and requirements

    • I shaped customer-care assistance around useful context, checkable suggestions and responsible human involvement.
    • I examined continuity when a conversation moved between automated assistance and a representative.

    Involves

    Useful context, checkable suggestions and human involvement.

    Illustrative measures

    Resolution without a human; handle time; contacts per hundred units; copilot latency and cost per interaction.

    Measured byResolution without a humanwith handle time

    ContinuityBetween automated assistance and a representative, made visible

  8. 08 Compliance reporting

    Reporting requirements vary by jurisdiction.

    I worked on reporting automation.

    The full account of 08 Compliance reporting

    Stage 8 · Compliance reporting

    Contributions and requirements

    • I worked on reporting automation.
    • I helped define state-specific reporting rules and failure handling.

    Involves

    Applicable obligations, complete information and responsible ownership.

    Illustrative measures

    Illustrative target: zero missed submissions. Example measure: daily facility reconciliation across source, configuration and reporting.

    Measured byFacility reconciliationdaily: source vs configured vs reporting

    Incomplete work visibleTraceability, bounded actions and reconciliation

The pattern

Extracted information still needs appropriate evaluation, and a proposed correction is not proof of a successful outcome.

daily facility reconciliation across source, configuration and reporting (stage 08 measure)
Daily
Before

Channel differences affect data quality and traceability.

After

I helped define state-specific reporting rules and failure handling.

These are generalized industry references, not employer system diagrams. Every card and total shows how a stage is measured, not a claimed result.

  • Prescription channels and intake quality
  • Data extraction with quality evaluation
  • Professional review supported by relevant information
  • Verification responsibilities and applicable obligations
  • Billing response and exception handling
  • Fulfillment and relevant review context
  • Customer support and human continuity
  • Reporting obligations and completeness

Generalized industry reference.

Stage 1 · Intake

Prescription channels and intake quality

What happens

  • Electronic prescriptions can use NCPDP SCRIPT; images and transfers require their own interpretation. Channel differences affect data quality and traceability.
What I built or changed
  • I investigated a renewal-related defect that created unnecessary work and contributed intake requirements for a customer migration.
Illustrative measures
  • Volume by channel; renewal success rate; time in queue; intake defects per thousand.
Stage 2 · Prescription processing
Data extraction with quality evaluation
What happens
  • OCR and machine learning can extract information from images; standard identifiers help represent it consistently. Extracted information still needs appropriate evaluation.
What I built or changed
  • I worked on prescription data-entry assistance, pairing automation coverage with quality evaluation and operator feedback.
Illustrative measures
  • Net automation rate paired with downstream error rate; time to typed; feedback tickets closed.
Stage 3 · Clinical verification
Professional review supported by relevant information
What happens
  • A qualified pharmacist reviews relevant information, supported by drug-data checks appropriate to the task.
What I built or changed
  • I helped modernize a pharmacist verification experience and its supporting checks. Historical comparisons, responsiveness and professional effort informed readiness.
  • I treated alert fatigue as a cause-analysis problem rather than broad suppression; this optimization program is work in progress.
Illustrative measures
  • Transactions per hour per pharmacist; automated-success rate; manual-review rate; alerts per prescription; latency p50/p90.
Stage 4 · Controlled-substance & red-flag checks
Verification responsibilities and applicable obligations
What happens
  • Controlled-substance requirements and professional verification involve applicable rules and specialist interpretation. A product must make responsibility and uncertainty clear.
What I built or changed
  • I developed requirements for verification capabilities and worked with specialist partners to interpret applicable obligations.
  • I scoped bounded self-service improvements so professionals could complete appropriate work without unnecessary engineering dependency.
Illustrative measures
  • Manual checks avoided; false-positive rate on flags; time to clear; risk score by failure mode.
Stage 5 · Billing & adjudication
Billing response and exception handling
What happens
  • Claims exchange uses industry standards. Rejections require understanding the reason and the appropriate next action; a proposed correction is not proof of a successful outcome.
Production support and requirements work
  • Billing support is in production after a pilot and phased rollout. Correction controls depend on the workflow.
  • I used actuals to refine the projected savings opportunity and written requirements to explain the exceptions.
Illustrative measures
  • Paid-on-first-pass rate; billing tasks per month; cost to fill per unit.
Stage 6 · Fulfillment
Fulfillment and relevant review context
What happens
  • Preparation, packaging and delivery connect physical activity with information about the intended product. Changes in relevant context can require qualified review.
What I built or changed
  • I analyzed differences between earlier review context and later activity, then aligned requirements with clinical and operational partners.
  • I worked on clear handling of unresolved conditions and the experience of the customer affected.
Illustrative measures
  • Reviews completed; cancellation rate; promise-time attainment; orders saved.
Stage 7 · Patient care
Customer support and human continuity
What happens
  • Customers ask about refills, delivery, coverage and other needs through multiple channels. Clinical questions require appropriate professional authority.
What I built or changed
  • I shaped customer-care assistance around useful context, checkable suggestions and responsible human involvement.
  • I examined continuity when a conversation moved between automated assistance and a representative.
Illustrative measures
  • Resolution without a human; handle time; contacts per hundred units; copilot latency and cost per interaction.
Stage 8 · Compliance reporting
Reporting obligations and completeness
What happens
  • Reporting requirements vary by jurisdiction. Product work connects applicable obligations with complete information, traceability and responsible ownership.
What I built or changed
  • I worked on reporting automation.
  • I helped define state-specific reporting rules and failure handling.
Illustrative measures
  • Illustrative target: zero missed submissions. Example measure: daily facility reconciliation across source, configuration and reporting.

02

The member and claim lifecycle — the work, handoffs and my contributions.

From plan design to enrollment and claims

Generalized industry reference. Customer care and digital experience continue across the member and claim lifecycle.

The detailed capability groups describe the work and handoffs; they are not a mandatory member journey sequence.

  1. Plan design
    Generalized industry reference.
  2. Broker compensation configuration
    Generalized industry reference. Agent and broker incentive programs are configured against the policy administration platform.
  3. Plan configuration
    Generalized industry reference. The policy administration platform holds products, plans and policies.
  4. Self-service or agent-assisted enrollment
    Generalized industry reference. Enrollment connects the member with coverage and access to claims and service.
  5. Claims
    Generalized industry reference. The detailed stages below retain member identity, claims intake, adjudication, payment and reconciliation, and reporting.

Customer care and digital experience continue

Generalized industry reference. Both continue after enrollment, during claims and across the lifecycle.

  1. Customer care
    Continuing service and human continuity across the lifecycle, including after a claim.
  2. Digital experience
    Member access to cards, benefits, accumulators and explanations of benefits across the lifecycle.

My responsibilities

I automated parts of product setup and approval work, connecting requirements with business-impact analysis and partner readiness.

I modernized enrollment using Kafka, connecting platform behavior with usable member access. Enrollment case study.

I led work on a member digital migration across enrollment, claims, cards, benefits and accumulators.

I worked on paper-claim to EDI 837 conversion, specifying how paper claims become structured, testable information. Claims automation, provider resolution and claims reconciliation show the separate work behind the claims lifecycle.

My pharmacy customer-care console work is separate from this generalized member-care reference. The agentic customer-care platform is a public design study.

Capability groups and handoffs

The detailed groups below retain the work and contributions; they are not a mandatory member journey sequence.

  1. Enrollment activates membership and downstream member access
  2. One person, one identifier, across every system that will ever ask
  3. Products, plans and the people paid to sell them
  4. Paper becomes data, or it becomes a backlog
  5. Eligibility, benefits, formulary, rebates — the rules that decide what is paid
  6. If a system cannot tell you what it dropped, assume it dropped something
  7. The card, the explanation of benefits, the deductible — on a screen, on time
  8. The reports the business actually reads — and the test data nobody had

Generalized industry reference.

Stage 1 · Enrollment

Enrollment activates membership and downstream member access

What happens

  • Group and individual enrollments arrive as EDI 834 transactions or through sales systems during open enrollment; brokers and agents are paid on what they sell.
What I built or changed
  • I modernized enrollment using Kafka, connecting platform behavior with usable member access.
  • I worked on a benefits-product launch and made continuity a readiness concern.
  • I investigated sales-to-enrollment data quality so campaign reporting reflected the underlying journey.
Illustrative measures
  • Time to active member; enrollment fallout; campaign conversion.
Stage 2 · Member identity
One person, one identifier, across every system that will ever ask
What happens
  • Customer master data management resolves a person across enrollment, claims, digital and service — the individual and household books of record every other system validates against.
What I built or changed
  • I led shared-data product work using Reltio.
  • I challenged migration sequencing with dependency evidence and helped protect dependent capabilities.
Illustrative measures
  • Match rate; duplicate rate; downstream validation latency.
Stage 3 · Policy administration
Products, plans and the people paid to sell them
What happens
  • The policy administration platform holds products, plans and policies; agent and broker incentive programs are configured and paid against it.
What I built or changed
  • I automated parts of product setup and approval work, connecting requirements with business-impact analysis and partner readiness.
  • I worked on integration between sales and enrollment to reduce avoidable customer waiting.
Illustrative measures
  • Launch cycle time; manual entry defects; partner satisfaction score.
Stage 4 · Claims intake
Paper becomes data, or it becomes a backlog
What happens
  • Provider claims arrive electronically as 837 professional and institutional transactions, or on paper; paper must be captured, read and converted.
What I built or changed
  • I worked on paper-claim to EDI 837 conversion, specifying how paper claims become structured, testable information.
  • I helped replace limited parsing capability with more complete handling of claim attributes.
Illustrative measures
  • Auto-conversion rate; intake cycle time; attributes captured per claim.
Stage 5 · Adjudication
Eligibility, benefits, formulary, rebates — the rules that decide what is paid
What happens
  • Eligibility (270/271), benefits and accumulators; for pharmacy claims, formulary position and the rebate contracts behind it; provider matching.
What I built or changed
  • I rebuilt formulary-related workflows, worked on rebate and drug-list capabilities, and served as a specialty-pharmacy SME across business, design and QA.
  • I centralized drug information using First Databank and Medi-Span and supported reuse through an API.
  • I used a provider-matching proof of concept to inform funding and explain the consequences of changing a match rule.
Illustrative measures
  • Auto-adjudication rate; rebate accuracy; fallout per thousand claims.
Stage 6 · Payment & reconciliation
If a system cannot tell you what it dropped, assume it dropped something
What happens
  • Payment, coordination of benefits with secondary payers, and the reconciliation that proves every received claim was processed.
What I built or changed
  • I identified claims missing from completion reporting and helped establish ongoing completeness visibility.
  • I connected more complete claim interpretation with accurate application of payment rules.
Illustrative measures
  • Received vs processed, daily; days-to-pay; excess-payment recoveries.
Stage 7 · Member digital experience
The card, the explanation of benefits, the deductible — on a screen, on time
What happens
  • ID cards, explanations of benefits, benefits and accumulators surfaced to members in a digital experience.
What I built or changed
  • I led work on a member digital migration across enrollment, claims, cards, benefits and accumulators.
  • I reverse-engineered Medicare deductible logic for an accumulator experience and examined related service needs.
Illustrative measures
  • Digital adoption; call deflection; time from event to display.
Stage 8 · Reporting & analytics
The reports the business actually reads — and the test data nobody had
What happens
  • Data marts, operational reports and dashboards over relational databases; regulatory reporting to CMS.
What I built or changed
  • I automated claims test-data generation with a script approved by the data-quality team.
  • I automated reporting and used Tableau to make reconciliation and exceptions visible.
Illustrative measures
  • Report latency; manual hours returned; data-quality defects caught before production.