Practice Lead-Nephrology (Medical Center)

Overview

At Houston Methodist, the Practice Lead position is responsible for coordinating the daily functions and operations of the department/practice to include first-level escalation and direction of assigned support employees in the department/practice. In partnership with management, this position will ensure the department/practice is followed according to established standard operating procedures which includes ensuring all members of the team are providing unparalleled patient care and customer service in a timely, professional and safe manner. This position designs and monitors the workflow of the office/department to create the best environment for patients, providers, staff and management. In addition to performing the duties of the other office staff/representatives as needed, the Practice Lead position will provide necessary and ongoing training to staff to encourage productivity and support providers in delivering excellent patient care.

Houston Methodist Standard

PATIENT AGE GROUP(S) AND POPULATION(S) SERVEDRefer to departmental "Scope of Service" and "Provision of Care" plans, as applicable, for description of primary age groups and populations served by this job for the respective HM entity.

HOUSTON METHODIST EXPERIENCE EXPECTATIONS

• Provide personalized care and service by consistently demonstrating our I CARE values:
  • INTEGRITY: We are honest and ethical in all we say and do.
  • COMPASSION: We embrace the whole person including emotional, ethical, physical, and spiritual needs.
  • ACCOUNTABILITY: We hold ourselves accountable for all our actions.
  • RESPECT: We treat every individual as a person of worth, dignity, and value.
  • EXCELLENCE: We strive to be the best at what we do and a model for others to emulate.

• Practices the Caring and Serving Model

• Delivers personalized service using HM Service Standards

• Provides for exceptional patient/customer experiences by following our Standards of Practice of always using Positive Language (AIDET, Managing Up, Key Words)

• Intentionally collaborates with other healthcare professionals involved in patients/customers or employees' experiential journeys to ensure strong communication, ease of access to information, and a seamless experience

• Involves patients (customers) in shift/handoff reports by enabling their participation in their plan of care as applicable to the given job

• Actively supports the organization's vision, fulfills the mission and abides by the I CARE values

Responsibilities

PEOPLE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Coordinates the daily department/practice operations, partnering with management, for providers and associated extenders, including patient appointments and/or surgical scheduling, and physician scheduling as needed. Ensures staff communicate professionally and effectively with all patients and visitors to ensure they are greeted and/or assisted in a timely manner.

• Maintains office efficiency by planning and implementing changes within the office setting, including, but not limited to, organizing daily schedules and work activities and providing coverage to meet patient's needs.

• Role models' healthy work relationships such as mitigation of conflict, leading problem-solving and resolution efforts. Serves as preceptor, mentor, and resource to less experienced staff. Recommends initiatives to improve department scores for employee engagement.

SERVICE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Coordinates all department/practice activities such as day-to-day operations, daily work flow, staffing, on-site provider support, as well as facilitating provider meetings with representatives, as appropriate.

• Investigates, as directed by management, to resolve and document resolution of patient complaints concerning provider care. Ensures that requests are handled in a swift manner to avoid interruption of services (such as patient flow or department/external communication). Keeps management informed of outcome.

• Assists with arranging interpretations in all languages for healthcare providers and patients as needed. Initiates improvement of department/practice scores for patient satisfaction.

QUALITY/SAFETY ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Under the direction of the management, assists with designing and implementing office policies by establishing standards and procedures, measuring results against metrics and making necessary adjustments.

• Reports near misses and collaborates with the interprofessional health care team to improve patient safety, including, but not limited to reporting Patient Safety Net (PSN), assisting employees, as needed, to file Worker's Compensation Reports, incident repor