Dialysis Coordinator

About the role

This role is ideal for a coordinator or clinical professional who excels at insurance verification, hospital collaboration, and patient advocacy. You’ll empower patients facing kidney disease by providing vital education and ensuring they have a seamless transition to the dialysis center of their choice.

Responsibilities

• Communicate with and treat patients with empathy at all times.
• Meet individually with patients requiring outpatient dialysis placement, depending on program scope, within the assigned region to provide educational materials on: Outpatient dialysis, Modality options, Vascular Access options, insurance which includes an assessment of patients insurance, out-of-pocket costs and grant program options.
• Provide education on options for patient to select an out-patient dialysis center of their choosing.
• Identify, resolve, or escalate patient issues and/or barriers to placement to appropriate teammates for prompt and effective resolution.
• Work with hospital Case Managers, Social Workers, and Physicians to place patients in outpatient dialysis clinics.
• Arrange out-patient kidney dialysis placement for patients by contacting local clinics within an appropriate proximity as determined by patient preference and providing all required medical documentation to the outpatient dialysis center.
• Aid in patient transitions from hospitals to dialysis facilities, including transfer of paperwork and, as much as possible, ensure patient satisfaction.
• Place patients and document referral in accordance with Patient Pathways Policy and Procedures.
• Work closely with both internal and external kidney care professionals to enhance current relationships or develop new relationships.
• Partner with Regional Operations Directors and Facility Administrators to identify and implement best practices for accepting patients from inpatient acute care settings into an outpatient dialysis provider.
• Attend operational team meetings with multi-affiliate providers in assigned region.
• Conduct operating reviews with management to review reports at a minimum of one time/month.
• Record patient data in electronic tracking system according to Patient Pathways Policy and Procedures.
• Immediately inform Regional Operations Manager/Supervisor of any reporting requests from the hospital.
• Assist Regional Operations Manager/Supervisor in gathering patient details as needed for reporting purposes.
• Attend hospital meetings to review reporting as needed.
• Adhere to all audit, compliance, and reporting requirements according to Patient Pathways Policy and Procedures.
• Learn, develop, and implement new ways for Patient Pathways to differentiate itself in the marketplace.
• Ensure Patient Pathways leadership is apprised of customer needs and any deviations from current practices.
• Participate in special projects as needed or requested.
• Educate team local markets on Patient Pathways program and initiatives.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Minimum of 2 years of experience in healthcare coordination, patient access, case management support, admissions, discharge planning, insurance verification, or a similar healthcare role.
• Experience working in a hospital, dialysis clinic, physician office, health system, or other healthcare setting.
• Strong knowledge of medical insurance, including commercial insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, and authorization/eligibility processes.
• Experience coordinating patient referrals, transitions of care, or discharge planning.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to educate patients and families during stressful situations.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills with the ability to prioritize multiple urgent referrals.
• Proficiency with electronic medical records (EMR/EHR) and Microsoft Office applications.
• Ability to build collaborative relationships with physicians, nurses, case managers, social workers, and other healthcare professionals.
• Reliable transportation and the ability to travel daily between Renown Medical Center, Renown South Meadows, and Renown Rehabilitation.

Qualifications

• Associate degree or vocational/technical certificate in healthcare, business, social services, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience in dialysis, nephrology, renal care, care coordination, patient navigation, hospital case management, or discharge planning.
• Knowledge of outpatient dialysis modalities, vascular access, and the continuum of kidney care.
• Experience explaining insurance benefits, financial assistance programs, or patient assistance resources.
• Experience working with hospital case managers, discharge planners, or social workers.
• Bilingual language skills are a plus.

Skills

• Patient advocacy and compassionate communication.
• Insurance navigation and financial resource coordination.
• Relationship building and stakeholder management.
• Critical thinking and problem solving.
• Attention to detail and documentation accuracy.
• Ability to work independently while managing multiple priorities.
• Customer service mindset with a focus on improving the patient experience.
• Adaptability in a fast-paced hospital environment.

Benefits

Comprehensive benefits: Medical, dental, vision, 401(k) match, paid time off, PTO cash out
Support for you and your family: Family resources, EAP counseling sessions, access Headspace®, backup child and elder care, maternity/paternity leave and more
Professional development programs: DaVita offers a variety of programs to help strong performers grow within their career and also offers on-demand virtual leadership and development courses through DaVita’s online training platform StarLearning.