OVERVIEW OF POSITION:

Responsible for developing and delivering the educational, empirical and behavioral program to patients participating in the Health & Weight Management Program (HWMP) for Optum.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Consistently exhibits behavior and communication skills that demonstrate Optum’s commitment to superior customer service, including quality, care and concern with each and every internal and external customer.
• Conducts weekly behavioral groups to teach patients the HWMP fundamentals.
• Conducts maintenance groups for patients who have completed the weight loss phase and/or core curriculum.
• Follows-up on both current and former patients by telephone calls and periodic individual and group meetings.
• Participates in HWMP orientations to give an overview of the program to prospective patients.
• Ensures correct and timely documentation in the patients’ HWMP medical records.
• Communicates regularly with physicians and staff to promote consistent, integrated and effective patient care services. Effectively communicates patients’ dietary/behavior needs to clinicians and staff.
• Coordinates a variety of health education services including the establishment of effective referral and publicity systems, providing scheduling and logistical support and facilitating use of community services.
• Develops and maintains high-quality, culturally appropriate and sensitive patient educational materials which reflect the needs of patients and the medical group.
• Maintains systems for tracking/reporting utilization data as needed. Coordinates collection, validation and reporting of clinic data.
• Attends staff meetings to discuss administrative and patient care issues. Participates in the establishment of HWMP strategic goals and priorities and ensures goals, timelines and expenditures are on target.
• Makes presentations of the HWMP to the community and coordinates marketing efforts.
• Responds to phone inquiries when needed.
• Serves as a resource for clinic staff, home health, care management and other departments as needed.
• Uses, protects, and discloses Optum’s patients’ protected health information (PHI) only in accordance with Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) standards.
• Performs additional duties as assigned.

EDUCATION:

• Bachelor’s degree from a four-year college and/or a professional certification requiring formal education beyond a two-year college.
• Master’s degree preferred.

EXPERIENCE:

Minimum:

• Over 1 year and up to and including 3 years of experience.

Preferred:

• 2 to 3 years experience in a hospital or outpatient setting.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES:

• Computer literate.
• Practices a healthy lifestyle (physically active, healthy diet) in order to serve as a role model to patients.
• Strong interpersonal communication skills.
• Effective teaching skills and demonstrated competency with adult learning theory.
• Team-oriented.
• Flexibility with work schedule and willingness to work some evenings and/or weekends as needed.