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.

PATIENT AGE GROUP(S) AND POPULATION(S) SERVED
Refer 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

• Displays cultural humility, diversity, equity and inclusion principles

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

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 reports and department safety plans regarding injections, disposing of needles, disinfecting compromised areas, etc.

• Identifies and assesses issues and opportunities for improvement and implements changes following managerial review. Follows up on action items to ensure completion of assignments. Contributes towards improving department/practice quality and safety scores.

FINANCE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Under the guidance of management, uses sound judgement and fiscal responsibility for the department/practice, including timely purchasing of supplies, inventory control and monthly account management. Attains financial objectives by maintaining an annual budget, scheduling expenditures, analyzing variances and initiating corrective changes as obligatory.

• In collaboration with the management, monitors the revenue cycle for reimbursement, adjustment and denial trends.

• Self-motivated to independently manage time effectively and prioritize daily tasks, minimizing team incidental overtime. Utilizes time efficiently and helps other team members.

GROWTH/INNOVATION ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Partners with management in strategic planning for the department/practice regarding operation and growth issues.

• Identifies training opportunities for the staff and discusses improvement plans with the Operations/Practice management.

• Completes and updates the My Development Plan on an on-going basis. Ensures own career discussions occur with appropriate management.

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive; the employee will also perform other reasonably related business/job duties as assigned. Houston Methodist reserves the right to revise job duties and responsibilities as the need arises.

EDUCATION

• High School diploma or equivalent education (examples include: GED, verification of homeschool equivalency, partial or full completion of post-secondary education, etc.)

• Associates degree preferred

WORK EXPERIENCE

• Five years of health care or clerical support experience, preferably in a provider practice

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS - REQUIRED

• N/A

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Demonstrates the skills and competencies necessary to safely perform the assigned job, determined through on-going skills, competency assessments, and performance evaluations

• Sufficient proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing the English language necessary to perform the essential functions of this job, especially with regard to activities impacting patient or employee safety or security

• Ability to effectively communicate with patients, physicians, family members and co-workers in a manner consistent with a customer service focus and application of positive language principles

• Conducts self in a professional manner at all times

• Strong analytical skills

• Demonstrates a learning attitude toward solving problems, using good reasoning and judgment in a high stress environment

• Well-developed skills using independent judgment

• Demonstrates a positive demeanor, good verbal and written communication skills, and strong multi-tasking abilities

• Ability to work with peers in a team situation

• Very strong organization skills and detail-oriented nature

• Ability to manage resources and coordinate across areas and cross-functionally

• Professional handling of exposure to confidential/sensitive information

• Proficient in computer skills for documentation

• Electronic Medical Record system proficient

SUPPLEMENTAL REQUIREMENTS

WORK ATTIRE

• Uniform No
• Scrubs No
• Business professional Yes
• Other (department approved) No

ON-CALL*
*Note that employees may be required to be on-call during emergencies (ie. DIsaster, Severe Weather Events, etc) regardless of selection below.

• On Call* No

TRAVEL**
**Travel specifications may vary by department**

• May require travel within the Houston Metropolitan area Yes
• May require travel outside Houston Metropolitan area No

Houston Methodist (HM) is one of the nation’s leading health systems and academic medical centers.  HM consists of eight hospitals: Houston Methodist Hospital, its flagship academic hospital in the heart of the Texas Medical Center, and seven community hospitals throughout the greater Houston metropolitan area.  HM also includes an academic institute, a comprehensive residency program, a global business division, numerous physician practices and several free-standing emergency rooms and outpatient facilities.  Overall, HM employs over 25,000 employees.   Houston Methodist is supported by a wide variety of business functions that operate at the system level to help enable clinical departments to provide the best patient care and service in a spiritual environment.

 

In 2019 Houston Methodist and its physicians treat more than 6,333 international patients from more than 76 countries. Houston Methodist Global Health Care Services’ consulting and education divisions also provide advisory services and training and development to health care organizations around the world.