Pt Family Rlts Spec at Wentworth-Douglass Hospital(WDH) in Dover, New Hampshire

Job Description:

At Wentworth-Douglass, we value people who contribute to patient-centered care that enhances community health, we recognize and reward those who share our values and transform our patients' lives. We invite you to explore opportunities, cultivate community wellness and professional growth.

The Patient/Family Relations Specialist works under the direction of the Director of Patient Experience and is responsible for overseeing all patient/family relations efforts. The role works with patients, families, and Wentworth-Douglass staff and leadership in acknowledging and responding to patient/family concerns and complaints in a compassionate, supportive, and timely manner. The role fosters teamwork and partnerships between hospital staff, physician and department leaders, Quality, Risk, and Compliance to ensure responses are patient/family centric. The patient/family relations specialist role requires strong interpersonal skills, highly effective communication skills, superior organizational skills, and ability to work effectively in a complex environment.

1. Represents patient and family needs through advocacy
a. Meets with staff, patients & family to assess needs and anticipate issues
b. Investigates issues with departments to determine cause and solution
c. Develops action plans in consultation with department leadership and patient experience team

2. Maintains patient complaint documentation and follow-up
. Utilizes RL Solutions software to enter patient complaint data
a. Communicates effectively with patients and families through written and verbal methods.
b. Creates reports and communicates with departments concerning patient complaint data.
c. Utilizes RL Solutions to document, track, and manage patient complaints to ensure regulatory requirements are met

3. Demonstrates highest levels of service excellence through customer service and interpersonal interactions
. Serves as a role model for positive customer service behaviors working with patients, families and staff.
a. Employs strategies to effectively communicate in high stress and complex situations
b. Provides staff education on customer service principles and philosophies

4. Gathers patient/family feedback, recognizes and identifies trends, and partners with staff on improvement efforts
. Actively engages in Patient/Family Advisory Council efforts
a. Proactively monitors trends in patient/family feedback to identify systematic, process, or cultural barriers to the delivery of patient/family centered care
b. Serves as an internal resource in understanding patient feedback analysis and facilitates action planning

5. Provides project support and completes special projects
. Supports initiatives to improve the patient care experience within the health system
a. Performs patient experience special projects as requested

EXPERIENCE MINIMUM REQUIRED
3-5 Experience working in a healthcare environment, problem solving highly complex situations. Experience 1:1 and in groups, familiarity with hospital and/or non-profit organizations and agencies
Familiarity with healthcare/hospital and /or nonprofit organizations/agencies.
Three to five years experience with people, both one-on-one and in groups.
Experience problem solving in highly complex situations

EDUCATION MINIMUM REQUIRED
Bachelor's Degree

EDUCATION PREFERRED/DESIRED
RN
Master's Degree

TRAINING MINIMUM REQUIRED
Highly effective written and verbal communication skills

SPECIAL SKILLS MINIMUM REQUIRED
Strong interpersonal skills, ability to work effectively in a complex environment with various stakeholders, superior organizational skills, ability to use effective judgment and critical thinking skills, ability to problem solve, excellent internal and external customer service

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities.
The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant.