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Heather Costello
Medford,NJ
Work Preference
Summary
Dynamic healthcare leader with extensive experience overseeing outpatient programs across New Jersey. Proven ability to drive operational excellence, ensure compliance, and deliver high-quality patient care. Excellent in strategic planning, team leadership, and program development to meet organizational goals and improve community health outcomes. Ability to manage multiple projects/tasks, utilize creativity, maintain a high level of decision-making, ability to adapt to a constantly changing work environment, maintain a high level of record keeping/routine paperwork, provide close attention to detail, ability to travel, ability to work under pressure for results, establish own goals, meet frequent deadlines, work in a closely supervised environment, and work closely with others.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
Work History
NJ Lead Director - Outpatient Programs
Youth Advocate Programs Inc.
Statewide, NJ
04.2007 - Current
- Directed operations for 20+ outpatient sites, serving over 350-400 Participants annually.
- Responsible for all services provided to participants and their families who are referred to the program. Ensure that all participants receive the appropriate number of hours, contacts, services, specified monies, and activities as required by contract with the referring authority or the third-party payor. Ensure that all services have been authorized or reauthorized by the referring authority or third-party payor.
- Oversee the intake process including interviewing referrals and appropriate family members along with referring authority staff. In conjunction with the participants and family ensure that a service or treatment plan that meets the individual needs of the participants and family is developed and implemented. Such plans must be strength-based using the wraparound plan model.
- Monitor service delivery provided by staff and ensure that staff implements the goals in the service or treatment plans, as well as implement any revisions to the plan that result from changing needs or case reviews.
- Identify, recruit, hire, train, monitor, and supervise all direct service professional and administrative staff in the local program, following the YAP, Inc. Personnel Policies, and procedures, including the matching zip code policy for recruiting direct service staff whenever possible. Ensure that staff qualifications meet those imposed by the referring authority or third party payor.
- Provide direct service professional personnel with staff development and training sessions as required by YAP, Inc. policies. Promote staff development including the provision of cross-training among staff.
- Conduct staff meetings and training sessions for program personnel. Attend staff meetings and training as assigned by Regional Director.
- Assist staff in creative problem solving, including securing needed professional resources for participants and their families. Ensure that activities for participants and their families involve education, employment, social, and other areas of need. Develop plans for discharge which include community linkages that will support the participants and family after termination of service.
- Ensure that all required timelines and due dates are met. This includes submission of all administrative, fiscal, and billing documents and database information to the Support Center for processing and all reports and documents that are required to be submitted by referring authorities and third-party payors.
- Identify new opportunities and new projects to assist in the growth and development of YAP, Inc. Programs and Services.
- Developing and implementing clinical workflows and business strategies for the facility or department.
- Collaborating with other administrators and medical staff on patient care plans, operational issues, and resource allocation.
- Track and analyze patient outcomes to maintain high standards of care using metrics like readmission rates.
- Ensuring the facility's compliance with federal, state and local regulations.
- Hiring, training, supervising, and coaching employees.
- Communicating with patients, families and care teams, including case managers and coordinators.
- Following state and federal laws for medical recordkeeping and documentation, such as those defined by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
- Planning and managing the clinic's budget and approving payroll.
- Increased participant satisfaction scores by 22% through implementation of evidence-based care protocols.
- Reduced operational costs by 15% while maintaining compliance and quality standards.
- Developed and launched 10+ new school sites, expanding access to underserved Medicaid populations.
- Achieved 100% compliance during state and federal audits for three consecutive years.
- Develop successful plans for discharge to include community linkages.
- Respond to special or critical incidents involving staff and clients.
Education
Associates Degree - Child Psychology
St. Plunkett
01.1988
Skills
- Strong leadership and organizational skills
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Ability to work collaboratively with diverse groups and stakeholders
- Experience in budget management and securing funding for programs
- Knowledge of relevant regulations and standards in community services
- Experience in program development and evaluation
- Familiarity with local government and community organizations
- Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities effectively
- Commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion
Community Service
- Division of Youth & Family Services Runaway Program, Volunteer, 01/01/07, 01/01/12
- Curfew City of Camden Program, Volunteer, Camden, NJ, 01/01/07, 01/01/12
Timeline
NJ Lead Director - Outpatient Programs
Youth Advocate Programs Inc.
04.2007 - Current
Associates Degree - Child Psychology
St. Plunkett