Lesa Nicholes
Summary
A compassionate Licensed Professional Counselor Associate (LPC-A) with strong relationship-building skills. Experienced in providing psychotherapy to clients and patients of diverse backgrounds including adolescence, adults and seniors. Over twenty years experience working in the healthcare field.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
3
3
years of post-secondary education
Work History
Clinical Liaison
Kindred Hospital
12.2019 - Current
- Educating and marketing long-term acute care hospital services to physicians, families & case managers.
- Conducts medical record review and patient evaluations for insurance authorization and clinical acceptance.
- Manage hospital accounts referrals and admissions.
- Provided emotional support to patients and families during challenging medical situations, fostering trust and rapport.
- Responded to patient concerns and questions with compassionate and knowledgeable service.
Infusion Clinic Management
Ivy Infusion
06.2016 - 11.2019
- Business development of specialty infusion suite.
- Patient advocacy and education of disease management.
- Marketing to specialty physician offices (infectious disease, neurology, cardiology, oncology, gastroenterology, internal medicine) and acute care hospitals.
- Insurance verification of commercial and Medicare payers.
- Clinical evaluation to ensure coverage.
- Submission of medical records to obtain prior authorization for particular J-codes when required.
- Worked with aged receivables for improper payment, claims denials, and coding errors for resolution.
- Educating patients and families about insurance benefits and therapy information.
- Coordinating with case management or the physician's office, patient, and pharmacy to ensure safe and timely discharge.
- Overseeing intake operations, nursing personnel recruitment, accounts payable/receivable, and payroll.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary healthcare teams to optimize patient outcomes through individualized pharmacotherapy plans.
- Developed educational materials to promote patient understanding and adherence to complex medication regimens.
- Provided emotional support to patients and families during challenging medical situations, fostering trust and rapport.
Territory Management - Infusion/Specialty Pharmacy
Soleo Health
03.2015 - 06.2016
- New Business Development of infusion therapy services for acute and chronic patients.
- Calling on physicians (infectious disease, cardiologists, neurologists, immunologists, oncologists) and acute care hospitals.
- Acting as a liaison between pharmacy, hospital physician, and patient by educating, communicating, and coordinating between all parties to ensure a safe and timely discharge.
- Knowledge of insurance verification and medications J-code requirements and coverage.
- Obtaining medical records required by insurance for prior authorization.
- Exceeding sales goals by 100% through solid customer service and implementation of effective sales initiatives.
Account Manager - Infusion Pharmacy
Walgreens Infusion Services
01.2012 - 01.2015
- New business development of infusion therapy and enteral services for acute and chronic patients by calling on physicians, acute hospitals, long-term acute care hospitals, and skilled facilities.
- Exceeded sales goals by 150% within the first four months and expanded the market share by 25% through strong customer relations and the development/implementation of effective sales/marketing initiatives.
- Obtained insurance benefits and prior authorization while scheduling and staffing clinical personnel to secure a referral.
- Coordinated networking/marketing events by collaborating with other medical vendors in the community.
- Acted as liaison between pharmacy, hospital, physician, and patient by bedside education and communication between all parties to ensure safe and timely discharge.
Education
M.Ed. Clinical Mental Health Counseling -
Lamar University
Beaumont, TX 08.2021 - 05.2024
Bachelor of Associated Arts and Sciences in Psychology -
University of Houston - Victoria
Houston, TX05.2011
Skills
- Individual and Group Counseling
- Treatment Planning
- Building rapport
- Self-Esteem Building
- Anxiety Reduction
- Depression Treatment
- Medical record review
- Patient and family advocacy
- Healthcare Industry Knowledge
- Clinical assessment
- Healthcare Reimbursement
- Insurance Verification
- Medicare knowledge
- Medical Billing
Certification
- Licensed Professional Counselor Associate - Texas License #95198
Timeline
M.Ed. Clinical Mental Health Counseling -
Lamar University
08.2021 - 05.2024
Clinical Liaison
Kindred Hospital
12.2019 - Current
Infusion Clinic Management
Ivy Infusion
06.2016 - 11.2019
Territory Management - Infusion/Specialty Pharmacy
Soleo Health
03.2015 - 06.2016
Account Manager - Infusion Pharmacy
Walgreens Infusion Services
01.2012 - 01.2015
Bachelor of Associated Arts and Sciences in Psychology -
University of Houston - Victoria