Patricia James
Nodaway,IA
Summary
Motivated claim examiner specializing in personal, property and casualty loss and damages. Negotiates peaceful resolutions of all claims with emphasis on fairness and thoroughness. Trustworthy and dependable.
Overview
32
32
years of professional experience
Work History
Paraeducator, Special Education
Southwest Valley School District
08.2021 - Current
- Assisted teachers in adapting lesson plans and materials, ensuring accessibility for all students.
- Promoted self-advocacy skills by teaching students how to express their needs effectively within the classroom setting.
- Delivered personalized educational, behavioral, and emotional support to individual students to enable positive learning outcomes.
- Maintained accurate records of student performance, attendance, and progress towards IEP goals.
- Participated in professional development opportunities focused on new strategies for supporting special education learners successfully in the classroom.
- Reported on student progress, behavior, and social skills to parents.
- Served as a liaison between regular classroom teachers and special education support staff, streamlining communication regarding student accommodations.
- Supported students'' social-emotional development through one-on-one counseling sessions and group activities.
Direct Support Professional
Choice Incorporated
11.2019 - Current
- Maintained clean, safe, and well-organized patient environment.
- Monitored medication administration, maintaining accurate records to ensure client safety and compliance with prescribed treatment plans.
- Facilitated social outings and community integration activities, promoting inclusion and positive experiences for clients.
- Documented progress notes thoroughly to track client achievements, concerns, or changes in behavior patterns that may need attention from the interdisciplinary team.
- Transported clients to and from medical appointments with safety and efficiency.
- Recorded status and duties completed in logbooks for management.
- Entrusted to handle confidential and sensitive situations in professional matter.
- Assisted clients with daily living needs to maintain self-esteem and general wellness.
- Assisted with crisis intervention to de-escalate challenging behavior and maintain peaceful encounters.
- Assisted clients in achieving personal goals through tailored care plans and daily skill-building activities.
Day Habilitation Specialist
Choice Incorporated
11.2015 - 10.2019
- Implemented personalized care plans for clients, ensuring their specific needs were met and exceeded.
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to provide comprehensive support for clients, resulting in improved outcomes.
- Facilitated workshops designed to improve social skills, self-esteem, problem-solving abilities, and overall quality of life for clients.
- Developed creative strategies to motivate clients toward reaching their full potential within the day habilitation setting.
- Offered input into development and implementation of new action plans for each person supported.
- Conducted assessments to identify individual strengths, weaknesses, interests, and areas of potential growth for each client.
- Documented habilitation services in system and with paper notes.
- Provided one-on-one support during community outings or specialized appointments as necessary to ensure safety and inclusivity.
- Organized group activities that fostered positive relationships among peers while emphasizing teamwork and cooperation skills development.
- Managed challenging behaviors calmly while implementing appropriate interventions according to established protocols or guidelines.
Activity Director
Clearview Homes
12.2013 - 11.2015
- Provided emotional support and companionship to improve quality of life for residents.
- Engaged residents through events, small groups, and personal attention.
- Promoted exceptional quality of life for residents by innovating, organizing, and conducting entertaining and stimulating activities.
- Helped residents build and maintain interpersonal relationships, social skills, mental abilities, and confidence.
- Spoke with senior citizen groups to expand community engagement and program outreach.
- Determined needed and relevant interventions based on each client's cognitive abilities and current needs.
- Participated in meetings with stakeholders to discuss program objectives and strategies.
- Monitored progress towards service plan goals.
- Assisted in conducting needs assessments to identify key areas of service needs.
- Provided transportation to appointments and events to keep residents connected to community and allow access to necessary services.
- Assisted with physical therapy exercises to help residents regain strength and mobility.
Animal Husbandry Technician
Iowa Select Farms
05.2011 - 12.2013
- Ensured compliance with federal regulations regarding animal care by following established protocols and guidelines.
- Regularly inspected animal feeding equipment for proper functioning, preventing malnutrition or overfeeding issues among livestock populations.
- Maintained cleanliness and hygiene in animal housing areas, reducing the risk of disease and infections.
- Increased awareness among farm staff about biosecurity measures to prevent the spread of diseases among livestock herds.
- Coordinated transportation arrangements for moving animals between facilities while ensuring their comfort throughout transit processes.
- Improved animal health by administering vaccinations and medications as prescribed by veterinarians.
- Provided exceptional care for injured animals through close observation, wound management, and rehabilitation exercises.
- Trained new employees in proper handling techniques, resulting in a safer work environment for both staff and animals.
- Developed detailed records of each animal''s medical history, facilitating effective treatment plans when necessary.
- Administered medications to animals in treatment and documented changes in condition.
- Kept records of animal health, medical treatment and injections and growth progress.
- Stocked, cleaned and disinfected habitats of [Number] animals to protect animal health and wellbeing.
Day Habilitation Specialist
Innovative Industries Inc
06.2009 - 05.2011
- Implemented personalized care plans for clients, ensuring their specific needs were met and exceeded.
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to provide comprehensive support for clients, resulting in improved outcomes.
- Facilitated workshops designed to improve social skills, self-esteem, problem-solving abilities, and overall quality of life for clients.
- Developed creative strategies to motivate clients toward reaching their full potential within the day habilitation setting.
- Maintained up-to-date knowledge of best practices in the field through ongoing professional development opportunities.
- Transported people supported to appointments and community outings.
- Offered input into development and implementation of new action plans for each person supported.
- Assisted management in developing programs for better client progress and overall satisfaction.
- Conducted assessments to identify individual strengths, weaknesses, interests, and areas of potential growth for each client.
- Evaluated client progress regularly, adjusting care plans as needed to maximize effectiveness and success rates.
- Documented habilitation services in system and with paper notes.
Classroom Paraeducator
Lenox Community School
08.2004 - 05.2009
- Assisted teachers in adapting lesson plans and materials, ensuring accessibility for all students.
- Promoted self-advocacy skills by teaching students how to express their needs effectively within the classroom setting.
- Delivered personalized educational, behavioral, and emotional support to individual students to enable positive learning outcomes.
- Maintained accurate records of student performance, attendance, and progress towards IEP goals.
- Participated in professional development opportunities focused on new strategies for supporting special education learners successfully in the classroom.
- Improved classroom management by implementing behavior modification strategies and positive reinforcement techniques.
- Reported on student progress, behavior, and social skills to parents.
- Enhanced student learning by providing individualized support and accommodations for special education students.
- Served as a liaison between regular classroom teachers and special education support staff, streamlining communication regarding student accommodations.
- Conducted assessments to monitor progress and adjust instructional strategies as needed.
- Cotaught lessons with general education teachers, integrating modifications for special education students seamlessly into the curriculum.
Insurance Claims Processor
Wells Fargo
06.1992 - 08.2004
- Enhanced communication between claimants and insurance providers through regular updates on case status and progress.
- Increased customer satisfaction by promptly addressing concerns or questions from both claimants and insurance companies during the claims process.
- Collaborated with medical professionals to obtain accurate assessments of claimant''s disability status for informed decisionmaking.
- Established credibility with claimants by demonstrating empathy, integrity, and professionalism throughout the claims process.
- Contributed to team success by sharing knowledge, providing support, and assisting colleagues when needed.
- Participated in continuous training programs to stay current on industry trends, best practices, and regulatory changes impacting disability claims management.
- Coordinated with vocational rehabilitation specialists to develop return-to-work plans for eligible candidates after their recovery period ended successfully.
- Managed a high volume of cases while maintaining a strong attention to detail, resulting in timely and accurate decisions.
- Reduced claim processing time with thorough review of medical records, interviews, and documentation.
- Conducted comprehensive investigations into each case to determine eligibility for benefits based on objective evidence and established criteria.
- Maintained detailed records for each claimant using advanced database software for efficient information retrieval when needed.
- Delivered unbiased decisions that adhered strictly to established policies while taking into consideration individual circumstances surrounding each case.
- Evaluated and interpreted state and federal regulations to ensure compliance in the handling of all disability claims.
- Examined claims forms and other records to determine insurance coverage.
- Delivered exceptional customer service to policyholders by communicating important information and patiently listening to issues.
- Identified insurance coverage limitations with thorough examinations of claims documentation and related records.
- Read over insurance policies to ascertain levels of coverage and determine whether claims would receive approvals or denials.
- Conducted day-to-day administrative tasks to maintain information files and process paperwork.
- Interviewed agents and claimants to correct errors or omissions and investigate questionable claims.
- Made payments to customers through their branch office.
Education
High School Diploma -
Winterset Senior High School
Winterset, IA05.1979
Skills
- Claims Processing
- Verbal Communication
- Data Verification
- Disability claims process
- Computer Skills
- Claims Evaluation
- Critical Thinking
- File and Record Management
- Claims Investigation
- Active Listening
Timeline
Paraeducator, Special Education
Southwest Valley School District
08.2021 - Current
Direct Support Professional
Choice Incorporated
11.2019 - Current
Day Habilitation Specialist
Choice Incorporated
11.2015 - 10.2019
Activity Director
Clearview Homes
12.2013 - 11.2015
Animal Husbandry Technician
Iowa Select Farms
05.2011 - 12.2013
Day Habilitation Specialist
Innovative Industries Inc
06.2009 - 05.2011
Classroom Paraeducator
Lenox Community School
08.2004 - 05.2009
Insurance Claims Processor
Wells Fargo
06.1992 - 08.2004
High School Diploma -
Winterset Senior High School
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