Patient Advocate, Quality & Risk, 24-Hours, Days, Hybrid

Heywood Hospital•Gardner, MA

28d•$22 - $29•Hybrid

About The Position

Overview You Matter Here! Heywood Healthcare values our employees! We offer competitive wages, great benefits and generous earned time off. Come work where you will matter! Hours: 24-Hours, Days, Hybrid $22.16 - $29.24 Job Summary: Ensures that the hospital is in compliance with regulatory body requirements for the management of patient complaints and grievances. Position reports to the Director of Quality and Risk. Is responsible to ensure that the hospital is in compliance with CMS Conditions of Participation related to patient grievance management. Enhances patient and family awareness of the institution's responsiveness to concerns. Responsible for problem resolution and interventions, and serves as an internal consultant to maximize patient satisfaction, process and system improvements. Must be knowledgeable in and comply with regulatory provisions concerning patient rights. Collaborates with multi-disciplinary teams to improve patient satisfaction, resolve patient issues, and enhance service excellence. Partners with hospital leadership and staff to promote and negotiate positive outcomes and coordinated care for patients and families. Serves as an advocate for patients and their families and addresses and responds to concerns.

Requirements

Minimum Education Bachelor’s Degree in English, Human Services, Public Relations, Social Services, Business Administration, Communications or related customer experience field. Candidates pursuing Bachelor’s degree will be considered, provided they obtain the degree within 2 years of accepting position.
Minimum Work Experience Three to five years of experience in a healthcare institution or in customer relations including demonstrated experience in problem solving, written correspondence/documentation, coordination and interaction with senior staff and the medical community. The ability to handle sensitive issues with minimal supervision.
Excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills.
Demonstrated emotional maturity in interaction with others.
Ability to work independently.
Proven history of ability to handle sensitive and highly confidential issues.
Must have proven history of exemplary customer service skills.
Must demonstrate understanding and be able to communicate clearly regarding patient relations issues as related to quality of care.

Nice To Haves

Experience in patient relations or other clinical work preferred.

Responsibilities

Interprets patient rights for patients, families, and staff.
Ensures the understanding and adherence by both hospital staff and patients of the hospital's philosophy on patient rights and responsibilities.
Interprets the Hospital's philosophy, policies, procedures and services to patients, their families and guests, providing timely, accurate, written documentation and follow-up.
Manages the patient grievance process, ensuring that CMS guidelines and hospital policy are adhered to, and that patients are responded to within CMS designated time frames, with adequate detail to address concerns.
Manages the daily flow of all patient complaints and grievances.
Contacts inside and outside hospital resources to obtain or relay information, arrange meetings, gather data, etc.
Regularly interacts with a variety of hospital executives, medical staff and/or outsiders in a professional and efficient manner.
Facilitates complaint/grievance committee meetings and takes notes.
Researches and resolves patient issues as appropriate, following departmental timelines and standards.
Answers inquiries and solves complaints with the involvement of appropriate hospital staff members, acting as an intermediary to hospital staff and administration on behalf of patients and their families.
Provides patients with information related to appropriate services and resources within Heywood/Athol Hospitals and the surrounding community.