Brian Scollard, director of provider relations at VIVAS Health, the new health insurance provider, describes life on the other side of the fence
My job as director of provider affairs involves negotiating and putting arrangements in place with all medical providers including public and private hospitals, treatment centres, clinics, GPs, specialist therapists, consultants, and different professional bodies to ensure that VIVAS members get access to the required treatments when necessary.
Apart from negotiating prices and direct settlement arrangements, I explain what we cover for them as providers and outline our IT system.
I'm constantly meeting people with new ideas and the latest information on new and emerging treatments which is very important. I record all of the information.
These past few months have been a bit of a whistle-stop tour of the Republic.
I've visited some 63 public hospitals, 36 private, five Northern Ireland hospitals, two CT Scanners, 17 MRI units, and two PET and PET CT units.
I've gone from Bantry to Ballykelly, Letterkenny to Wexford and Dublin to Foxford. So, a lot of time has been spent on the road.
It's my intention to visit every provider so the travelling will continue for at least half of the year.
I've found that I'm meeting a lot of the same old faces: I worked in the Blackrock Clinic for 18 years where I was chief accountant and head of finance so it was to be expected.
When I'm not on the road I'm usually in work by 7.45 a.m. and finish by 6.30 p.m. I do an hour at home each evening and several hours on my laptop at weekends. Fridays though I finish a bit earlier to collect the kids.
I have another job in my spare time - I'm treasurer of the Irish Society for Quality and Safety in Health Care (ISQSH) which receives some funding from the Department of Health.
I normally spend about a day a month on this work.
What do I do to relax? I chill out with my three kids. And I read politics and history: the most recent books I've read were on Bertie Ahern and Sean Moncrieff's book on 20 mad rulers in the world (no link intended!)
I do a bit of gardening and walking.
I enjoy life and get great support from my family and people at work.
My job at VIVAS Health is a good change after 18 years on the other side of the fence!
(Interview by Regina Daly)