Have you ever been confused by a medical bill or program? Who hasn’t, right? If you’re a RiverView Health patient, your go-to for help is Mela Hatchett, the financial counselor in the Patient Financial Services (PFS) Department. Consistently recognized for her calm demeanor, patience, and accountability, Mela was also recently recognized as the organization’s April Employee of the Month (EOM).
Mela began working in her role in the PFS Department in November 2020. The oldest of five children, her family is from Grand Forks, where her father was stationed at the Grand Forks Air Force Base in 1966. He moved to Crookston after the 1997 flood. Mela and her daughter, Robyn, moved to Crookston in 2022. Her siblings live in the Twin Cities and Duluth areas.
In her free time, Mela enjoys gardening, music, K-dramas, and she volunteers as a trained Bible Study instructor.
“I was surprised and I appreciate the recognition,” she shared of being named the EOM. “Isn’t there the saying, you’re only as good as the company you keep? I feel it doesn’t matter how talented an individual is if they don’t have the opportunity, support, and resources to use and improve their talent.”
“My supervisor, Lexie Huebner, gives me that support by encouraging me to voice any concerns or suggestions I may have, and then she makes sure that I have the resources I need to help our patients. She’s always looking for ways we can do our jobs better and reminds us to take care of our physical and mental health.”
“I also work with excellent teammates in PFS and HIM (Health Information Management). They are quick to respond to my questions and work with me to resolve patients billing issues. They willingly share their knowledge and experience with me so I can improve my understanding of the billing and revenue processes. Without this good leadership and teamwork, I wouldn’t be able to excel in this position.”
“Thank you, RiverView, for being one of the healthiest environments I’ve ever worked in.’’

