George Sands Email & Phone Number

Houston, Texas, United States

• Develop relationships with Dept of Defense & VA leadership to ensure timely and professional care and treatment of veterans and their families.
• Prepare briefs and represent veterans for pending VA appeals and benefits hearings.
• Identify and review administrative errors and other documents for consideration for submission to Central Office.
• Remain current with all VA and Dept. of Defense laws, regulations, and benefits.
• Maintain and update WoundedWarrior Project case management electronic tracking systems.
• Organize community events and programs to speak on behalf of Wounded Warrior Project.

• Review VA Disability Benefits questionnaires to ensure compliance with Quality Standards and Regulations.
• Facilitate both on-site and virtual Physician Onboarding Orientations to ensure policy compliance.
• Analyze VA Quality Reports to provide performance updates to medical providers.
• Assist in the creation of Training materials specific to provider clinical specialties and contractual relationships.
• Established strong relationships with a national network of medical providers contracted to perform VA Disability Examinations.
• Develop preventative action measures based to resolve potential issues and disputes in an effort to optimize the provider experience

Houston County, Texas, United States

• Reviewed and revised Contracts for individual and business clients covering diverse legal issues.
• Transitioned to Electronic Forms from paper in 2020 by adding new equipment and supervising three interns.
• Developed Training materials and Claims templates to optimize efficiency of Accounts Receivable related to clients’ insurance payments.
• Electronically managed claims reports, contracts, and outstanding invoices.
• Helped analyze Business Development opportunities and developed Marketing materials.

Virgina Beach, Virginia

• Hired for a temporary operations consultant position in anticipation and preparation for a new Medicare Part C (Medicare Advantage audit and appeals contract)
• Evaluation of standard operating procedures, program opportunities, project artifacts and available data to determine business needs, gaps, and process improvements.
• Tracked and updated risk assessments and provided comprehensive recommendation based on governmental requirements and federal policies under the Risk Adjustment Data Validation program.
• Ensured the development and submission of quality deliverables in accordance with ISO 9000 compliance rules.
• Executed scope of work through the creation of training materials and tracking metrics in preparation for appeals audits under the RADV program.

Houston, Texas Area

• Reviewed Disability Compensation Appeals from veterans and beneficiaries.
• Evaluated testimony and evidence in de novo hearings in support of veterans’ appeals.
• Worked collaboratively with Quality Review Officers for improving training of new VA Claims Adjudicators.
• Responsible for the review and compliant filing of responses to performance and evaluation audits and requests.
• Researched and provided resolution to Claim Denials, Reconsiderations, and Redetermination Requests.
• Maintained more than 98% accuracy in worked cases based on local Quality Reviews.

Houston, Texas Area

• Exercised the full range of medical case management and federal benefits claims examiner responsibilities, which included, planning, and evaluating work, determining priority projects and evaluating input medical data.
• Provided Federal benefits guidance on Veterans Affairs coverage, as well as Social Security and Medicare.
• Assisted with writing and establishing standard operating procedures for Special Operations team with emphasis on ALS, traumatic brain injury, and homeless veterans
• Presented data analysis and commented on changing trends at weekly OEF/OIF conference call.
• Delivered medical case management services, including assessments, referrals and linkages to federal services, follow-up, outreach, and coordination of service delivery.

Houston, Texas Area

• Processed and expedited cases for Seriously Injured (SI) and Very Seriously Injured (VSI) Veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.
• Received, processed, scanned, and downloaded personal VA health information for individuals in accordance with regulations (e.g., HIPAA).
• Provided a full-range of case management, advocacy and educational, and related, services for military service members and their families.
• Assumed professional responsibility for assuring veterans’ privacy was maintained to the highest quality standards.
• Reduced Average Days Pending for Claims Processing by 20% for seriously injured veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, primarily from 2009-2010.
• Stayed abreast of current military family research findings, and other evidence, to expand clinical knowledge, enhance role performance, and increase knowledge of military family challenges.

Houston, Texas

• Responsible for introductory lectures and instruction, implementation, and assessment of student learning in communications.
• Designed various cross-curricular activities to enhance students’ connections between collegiate subjects.
• Strengthened students’ comprehension skills (e.g., making connections and predictions and asking critical questions). Prepared and facilitated lectures and other classroom activities.
• Coached students to foster competency development in media studies by asking open-ended questions, brainstorming next steps and maintaining accountability.
• Implemented student activities and projects through collaborative and individual learning approaches.
• Adapted the type, length and intensity of instructional methods based upon students’ needs.

Master Of Arts (M.A.), Public Relations

Mass Media Arts