Lydia Velez
Land O Lakes,FL
Summary
Occupational Therapist with nearly 19+ years of experience in a SNF, homecare and hospital setting. Committed to helping patients regain independence and navigate a smooth return to daily life following recovery from illness, injury, or major surgery. Natural collaborator. Build productive relationships & strong communication skills with nurses, providers, case managers, physical therapists, speech therapists, other healthcare professionals and patients' family members & employers. Expertly balance various duties and priorities in a fast-paced healthcare environment.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
MDS Coordinator
Solaris Healthcare Zephyrhills
08.2023 - Current
- Participate in the admission process of prospective residents in terms of their nursing needs and appropriate placement
- Determine potential Resource Utilization Groups (Rugs) and expense associated with a potential admission
- Complete and assure the accuracy of the MDS process for all residents
- Maintain current working knowledge of Medicare criteria, serving as a resource for nursing staff and communicate changes in regulations
- Monitor Medicare assessment schedules and nursing documentation to ensure accuracy and timely submission
- Coordinate MDS assessments and care planning for SNF; work with the interdisciplinary team to develop and ensure individualized care plans for patients
- Conduct meetings with residents, family members, and the IDT members to collect accurate data to complete a comprehensive MDS
- Verified prompt and accurate completion of MDS activities for billing.
- Conduct and coordinate the development and completion of the resident MDS, CAA's and individualized care plans per regulation and facility policy
- Set schedules for staff to start and complete MDS assessments and care plan meetings.
- Submit/transit MDS' to CMS as required
- Complied with federal and state regulations for completion and coordination of RAI process.
- Ensure MDS' are complete and accurate before submission to CMS.
- Assessed electronic medical record for required documentation to support MDS coding.
- Produce all financial documentation for Medicare/Medicaid reimbursement according to CMS guidelines
- Trained staff in correct techniques for completing and signing MDS assessments.
- Strong PCC, Scrub reports & Rehab Optima Savvy Knowledge
- Reviewed missing assessment reports and analyzed issues for leadership team.
Case Manager/MDS Coordinator
Athena Health Care Systems Northbridge HCC
12.2021 - 06.2023
- Participate in the admission process of prospective residents in terms of their nursing needs and appropriate placement
- Determine potential Resource Utilization Groups (Rugs) and expense associated with a potential admission
- Review all applications for admission, followed by on-site or phone assessment and communicate results of assessment to the Admissions Coordinator
- Complete and assure the accuracy of the MDS process for all residents
- Maintain current working knowledge of Medicare criteria, serving as a resource for nursing staff and communicate changes in regulations
- Monitor Case Mix Index (CMI) scores, looking for potential risks and/or changes that may affect Medicaid reimbursement
- Facilitate problem-solving for complicated admissions
- Monitor Medicare assessment schedules and nursing documentation to ensure accuracy and timely submission
- Coordinate MDS assessments and care planning for SNF; work with the interdisciplinary team to develop individualized care plans for patients
- Conduct meetings with residents, family members, and the IDT members to collect accurate data to complete a comprehensive MDS
- Submit all Medicare/Medicaid assessments to CMS
- Produce all financial documentation for Medicare/Medicaid reimbursement according to CMS guidelines
- Managed Medicare Coordinator, responsible to send clinical(s) to Case managers on a weekly basis, communicate effectively & ensure safe discharges
- Provide NOMNC to residents when Managed Medicare discontinues skilled services
- KEPRO appeal knowledge-send required documents for review within 48 hour notice
- Provide SNF ABN to residents that dually eligible (Medicare/Medicaid)
- Collaborate with IDT team at weekly discharge meeting(s) to ensure residents a safe discharge home/community
- Provide weekly Skilled Medicare meetings to ensure Nursing and/or skilled services to ensure Medicare guidelines
- Strong PCC, Scrub reports & Rehab Optima Savvy Knowledge
Clinical Manager/Occupational Therapist
All About You Home Care Agency
05.2018 - 11.2021
- Screen/Evaluate/Treat clients in home setting
- Provide 12-15 in home weekly treatment sessions to clients of various diagnosis
- Educate client, HHA & family of HEP
- Prepare daily schedule for client’s weekly treatment sessions
- Recommend/order DME in the home to maximize independence/safety in the home
- Assess client's problem areas, deficits & strengths using functional measure outcomes: TUG, 5 Repetition Chair Rise test, Functional Reach assessment, Berg Balance test and Barthel ADL Index
- Document clients' daily notes, progress/Recert
- And d/c summaries using Riversoft and HCHB/Point Care Manager in a timely manner
- Create and collaborate treatment plans/POC with client/caregiver(s) & MD
- Review Nursing, OT, PT & ST documentation/frequency & POC for accuracy and compliance
- Resolve Rehab
- Compliance and operational issues
- Train OT, PT & ST on HCHB/PointCare manager software
- Review Medicare and Medicare Advantage documentation for additional therapy revisits for proper reimbursement and prevent insurance denial
- Ability to supervise, guide and develop a staffing pattern to accomplish nursing and therapy objectives and promote optimal level of utilization of health personnel
- Assist in recruiting, hiring, evaluating, and terminating therapy personnel
- Responsible for the orientation of new therapist, competency, and tablet/software training
- Assist in the organization of nursing and therapy services to delineate and delegate functional responsibility, lines of relationship and communication to provide safe and therapeutically effective service
- Serve as a resource person to employees
- Immediately reports any accident, incident, lost articles, or unusual occurrence to the Director of Clinical services/Administrator
- Conduct patient care conferences, staff meetings and maintains documentation
- Develop a cooperative relationship and communicates effectively and professionally with physicians
- Investigates and reports any problem relating to patient care &/or employee well-being
- Acts as Director of Clinical services in the Director's absence
Occupational Therapist
Lifelong Therapeutics OT, PLLC/Balance Rehab
08.2017 - 06.2018
- Screen/Evaluate/Treat clients in home setting
- Provide 2-3 in home weekly treatment sessions to clients of various diagnosis
- Educate client, HHA & family of HEP
- Prepare daily schedule for clients in Danbury, CT & Orange, CT
- Recommend DME in the home to maximize independence/safety in the home
- Assess client's problem areas, deficits & strengths using functional measure outcomes: TUG, 5 Repetition Chair Rise test, MCTSIB, functional Reach assessment and Berg Balance test
- Document clients' daily notes, progress/Recert
- And d/c summaries using WebPT
- Create and collaborate treatment plans/POC with client and caregiver(s)
Occupational Therapist
Outreach Physical & Occupational Therapy and Speech Rehab PLLC
05.2016 - 08.2017
- Screen/Evaluate/Treat clients in home setting
- Provide 2 in home weekly treatment sessions for clients of various diagnosis
- Educate client, HHA and family of HEP
- Provide NOMNC when client achieved all goals upon d/c
- Recommend DME in the home to maximize independence/safety
- Assessed clients' problem areas and strengths utilizing Standardized tests: Modified Barthel Index, Tinetti Balance etc
- Documented clients' daily progress and complete d/c summary using Clinicient Insight EMR
- Created treatment plans for individual clients to meet their goals
- Prepared daily schedule for clients in Queens, NY
Director of Rehabilitation
Holliswood Center for Rehab. & Healthcare
03.2013 - 05.2016
- Supervision of COTAs, PTAs, SLPs, PTs, OTRs and rehabilitation aides/transporter, a staff of over 30 therapists
- Integrate PT, OT & SLP services for residents to reach their maximum potential
- MDS, CMI, G-Code, Part A and B knowledge
- Develop & participate with resident and family education
- Maintain an adequate liaison with families & residents
- Reviewing and co-signing progress notes & recertifications
- Daily scheduling and determining need for coverage
- Attend Interdisciplinary meetings
- Attend and participate in Utilization Review meeting weekly
- Screening/Evaluating residents for OT program
- Falls/Wheelchair assessments
- Provide recommendations for Nursing Rehab Program
- In-service Rehab Staff proper documentation and work ethics
- Utilize Rehab Optima and Point Click Care
- Utilize Modified Barthel Index Standardized Test
- Audit Rehab charts to ensure progress is appropriate and obtained
- HMO Coordinator, responsible to send clinical(s) to Case managers on a weekly basis, communicate effectively & ensure safe discharges
- Provide NOMNC to residents when MCR HMO cuts services, Livanta appeal knowledge-send required documents for review
- Facilitate weekly Rehab team meetings
- Order appropriate rehab equip for rehab gym such as: wheelchairs, splints, dycem etc
- Maintain Equipment Inventory
- Implement Group Therapy sessions
- Develop weekly D/C List from Rehab services
- Interview therapists, provide job training & orientation for newly assigned therapists
- Determine staffing needs of PT, OT and SLP Dept
- Submit yearly statistical summaries
- Submit weekly therapy reports
- Monitor Part B Cap Management, followed by planning appropriate discharges
- Assist the Administrator in developing, implementing, and maintaining an ongoing Quality assurance program for Rehab
- Supervision of Level II OT students
- Develop Letter of Justifications for residents DME for Medical Necessity
- Supervision of 5 COTAs and rehabilitation aides
- Review and co-sign progress notes & recertification notes
- MDS knowledge
- Develop daily Rehab schedule
- Attend interdisciplinary meetings
- Screening/Evaluating residents for OT Program
- Falls/Wheelchair assessment
- Fabrication of upper body splints
- Supervision of Level I and Level II students
- Assist COTAs in creating and adapting treatment plans
- Education of staff and family members
- Treat inpatient and outpatients with various diagnosis
- Create justification letters to insurance companies to validate for equipment of Medical Necessity
Occupational Therapy Supervisor
Bushwick Center for Rehab. & Healthcare
04.2011 - 03.2013
- Supervision of COTAs, PTAs, SLPs, PTs, OTRs and rehabilitation aides/transporter, a staff of over 30 therapists
- Integrate PT, OT & SLP services for residents to reach their maximum potential
- MDS, CMI, G-Code, Part A and B knowledge
- Develop & participate with resident and family education
- Maintain an adequate liaison with families & residents
- Reviewing and co-signing progress notes & recertifications
- Daily scheduling and determining need for coverage
- Attend Interdisciplinary meetings
- Attend and participate in Utilization Review meeting weekly
- Screening/Evaluating residents for OT program
- Falls/Wheelchair assessments
- Provide recommendations for Nursing Rehab Program
- In-service Rehab Staff proper documentation and work ethics
- Utilize Rehab Optima and Point Click Care
- Utilize Modified Barthel Index Standardized Test
- Audit Rehab charts to ensure progress is appropriate and obtained
Occupational Therapist Home Care
Revival Home Health Care
01.2010 - 04.2011
- Screen/Evaluate/Treat clients for OT home care
- Provide 2-3 weekly treatment sessions to clients of various diagnosis at home
- Educate client, HHA and family of HEP
- Provide NOMNC when client achieved all goals upon d/c
Occupational Therapist
Peninsula Hospital/Peninsula Extended Care & Rehab Center
08.2004 - 01.2010
- Screen/Evaluate/Treat clients for OT home care
- Provide 2-3 weekly treatment sessions to clients of various diagnosis at home
- Educate client, HHA and family of HEP
- Provide NOMNC when client achieved all goals upon d/c
Education
Doctorate - Occupational Therapy
Quinnipiac University
Hamden, CT05.2020
Bachelor of Science - Occupational Therapy
York College of CUNY
Jamaica, Queens NY06.2004
Skills
- DME recommendation
- Client assessment
- Progress documentation
- Treatment plan creation
- Schedule preparation
- Interdisciplinary collaboration
- Screening and evaluation
- Occupational therapy treatment
- Falls assessment
- Wheelchair assessment
- Splint fabrication
- Student supervision
- Treatment plan adaptation
- Physical assessment
- Psychological assessment
- Home environment assessment
- Work environment assessment
- Adaptive equipment advising
- Rehabilitation program development
- Return to work preparation
- Caregiver education
- Progress evaluation
- Professional knowledge maintenance
- Certification compliance
- Patient condition evaluation
- Community collaboration
- Personalized therapy plan establishment
- Therapy administration
- Patient instruction
- Medical documentation
- Record organization
- Therapy equipment maintenance
- Cross-disciplinary collaboration
- Evidence-based practice utilization
- Client care management
- Durable medical equipment knowledge
- Task prioritization
- Safe discharge planning
- HIPAA compliance
- Staff training and development
- Delegation and supervision
- Strategic planning
Certification
OT License, #23640, 10/01/22
Personal Information
Title: Occupational Therapist/MDS Coordinator
Timeline
MDS Coordinator
Solaris Healthcare Zephyrhills
08.2023 - Current
Case Manager/MDS Coordinator
Athena Health Care Systems Northbridge HCC
12.2021 - 06.2023
Clinical Manager/Occupational Therapist
All About You Home Care Agency
05.2018 - 11.2021
Occupational Therapist
Lifelong Therapeutics OT, PLLC/Balance Rehab
08.2017 - 06.2018
Occupational Therapist
Outreach Physical & Occupational Therapy and Speech Rehab PLLC
05.2016 - 08.2017
Director of Rehabilitation
Holliswood Center for Rehab. & Healthcare
03.2013 - 05.2016
Occupational Therapy Supervisor
Bushwick Center for Rehab. & Healthcare
04.2011 - 03.2013
Occupational Therapist Home Care
Revival Home Health Care
01.2010 - 04.2011
Occupational Therapist
Peninsula Hospital/Peninsula Extended Care & Rehab Center
08.2004 - 01.2010
Bachelor of Science - Occupational Therapy
York College of CUNY
OT License, #23640, 10/01/22
Doctorate - Occupational Therapy
Quinnipiac University
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