Kathy Button, Lnha Email & Phone Number

Greater Chicago Area

Sandwich, Illinois, United States

In this role, I ensured facility compliance with federal, state, and local regulations and maintaining care delivery to assess required changes to enhance outcomes and service standards. Assessing data to uncover performance improvement opportunities and planning operating budget for areas of responsibility. Leading and coordinating activities of all medical, nursing, and administrative staff and services.Key accomplishments: • Optimized census, case mix, revenue, overall operating budget, and agencyusage. • Hired, onboarded, and carried out staff development, while executing programto decrease falls. • Created and implemented sensory room/programming to facilitate reduction ofbehaviors/falls in high fall risk populations.

Here, , I crafted and deployed staff retention plan and managed human resource functions, such as payroll, interviews, annual reviews, and disciplinary action. I coordinated daily operations, including finalize reportable, IDPH surveys, and leading staff-in-services and monitored staff training programs for benefit verification, IOP, PASS, and specialized recreation programming,while carrying out coverage and additional staff training for vacant positions.Key accomplishments:• Completed chart audits to determine compliance. • Reduced overall operating budget by optimizing agency usage and recruitingand improving staff development. • Determined regulatory compliance by supporting facility and corporate teamin returning to status of compliance and fostering positive culture.

Benefit verification to ensure services rendered are billable and reimbursable under state and federal guidelines for all potential payers. Responsible for facilitating interdisciplinary plans and assuring progress reports are completed and provided to payor as required. Serve as liaison between patient, physician, care team members, payor, and the discharge planner by coordinating, monitoring, and communicating patient's progress and cost evaluation and assisting with coordination to the next level of care. Negotiate levels of care and reimbursement per contract, state and federal guidelines to ensure facility is capturing maximum reimbursable amount. Assist patients in acquiring secondary payer source to limit out of pocket expense including supplemental insurances and Medicaid. Serve as educational resource and contact person for external contractors, families, and medical professionals regarding benefit explanation, billing, and reimbursement for billable services Serve as education resource to civil and professional organizations to better understand the need for program services and to communicate services offered which meet these needs. Continue to oversee the admission process as well as external marketing responsibilities listed below.

In this role, I led benefit verification and utilization of various facilities within Dynamic Healthcare consultants and acted as focal point of contact between facilities, hospital, insurance company, and corporate office to determine services provided within covered limit of patient benefits. I performed insurance reviews, managed metrics, and monitored admissions andexternal marketing as well as responsibilities.Key accomplishments: • Negotiated maximal contract rates according to state, federal, and CMSregulations. • Increased reimbursement and skilled length of stay driving revenue in linewith local, state, and federal guidelines.

Bridgeview, Illinois

In this role, I executed benefit verification for all payer sources including Medicare, Medicaid, and Insurance and ensured required services billable and reimbursable under state, federal, and contract guidelines. I served as business development liaison for additional account coverage and as speaker onbenefit utilization at multiple community and clinical events.Key accomplishments: • Improved census and boosted market share by 10%+ through relationships management with referral sources to ensure strong pipeline.

Oak Lawn West

Here, I monitored and improved referral accounts, developed, and shared marketing materials to potential referral sources. I performed clinical reviews of all new referrals and maintained annual sales plan and database to assess inquiries, sales calls, and performance measures. I led and upskilled admissioncoordinator and secondary admission team.Key accomplishments:• Attained record YoY growth for facility admissions.• Successfully achieved PACT champion goals of care training. • Chosen to participate as facility representative member of Advocate Post- Acute Network as well as Little Company of Mary and Northwestern University'sPreference-Aligned Communication and Treatment (PACT) program.

Oak Lawn, Illinois

• Delivered opportunities for meaningful leisure to coordinate promotion ofpsychosocial wellbeing.• Executed patient assessments, managed documentation, and supervisedactivities of support staff.

Lockport, Il

Provide customer service and maintain personal cash bank. Preserve cleanliness of restaurant. Assist in opening and closing procedures. Provide service at special events. Implement training of new employees.

Aurora, Il

Facilitate participation of individuals with special needs in park district programs. Provide inclusion services that accommodate the participant’s level of need. Develop strategies to improve participant’s inclusion in programs. Develop alternate activities as needed to actively engage participants.

Joliet, Il

Assist with and facilitate Therapeutic Recreation programs in the Behavioral Health Unit. Perform daily patient charting and billing. Work collaboratively with a multidisciplinary team to meet patient’s treatment plan.

Attended advocacy training meetings and speak at advocacy events. Provide public education while working to increase public awareness about heart disease. Attended and presented at lobbying events at state and national levels. Designed informational book for members of national legislature and presented the information at the Congressional Mall during national lobbying campaigns.

Greater Chicago Area

Established the University of Chicago Comer Children’s Hospital chapter of Mended Little Hearts. Established and promoted a sibling support group in conjunction with Comer Children’s Hospital’s Child Life Department. Created an interactive group website, educational materials, and press releases. Attended training conferences, conducted board member training workshops, directed bimonthly board meetings, arranged guest speakers, served as advocate for patient and family rights. Planned and oversaw special events.