MCS Founder Pat Arvantides Dies at 70

Patricia “Pat” Arvantides, founder of Medical Coding Services, Inc (MCS), died on March 21 at the age of 70. Pat founded MCS in 1996 and built the company from the ground up, starting with one coder and one hospital.

A true visionary whose extensive coding experience gave her unique insight into the business, Pat saw the need in hospitals for experienced medical record coders to assist HIM departments in keeping up with their coding and eliminating backlogs. She felt that coders were a vital piece of the hospital revenue cycle. According to MCS president Paul Arvantides, Pat built MCS with the philosophy that coders came first.

Starting her medical records career as a coder, Pat went on to work as a DRG coordinator, assistant director, and HIM director as well as becoming a contract coder herself.  She was also a regional manager for Smart Corporation in Tampa and Boston before returning to Syracuse, N.Y. in 1995 and began building MCS. 

Pat graduated from Syracuse University summa cum laude in 1973 with a degree in education and spent the next several years working in pre-K education and teaching 1st grade while raising three children. Eventually, she returned to school to begin a new career in Health Information Management (Medical Records), completing her degree in HIM from SUNY IT in Utica, N.Y., in 1984 and receiving her RHIA (RRA) from the AHIMA. 

Pat retired in 2004 after 20 years in the HIM field, turning the reins of MCS over to her son, Paul. Even in retirement, Pat continued to be a valuable resource of knowledge and advice for MCS.  She was the benefactor of the Patricia Arvantides Scholarship Fund for students attending the Health Information Management Program and SUNY IT.  “She will be missed by all who knew her,” says Paul Arvantides.  “For those wishing to honor her memory, please make a contribution in her name to the Susan G. Komen Foundation.”

Source: Medical Coding Services Inc