Tammy Ruff
Fairview,NC
Summary
Dedicated Care Navigator with expertise in care navigation and patient education. Coordinated multidisciplinary teams and ensured accurate documentation to enhance patient satisfaction and streamline care processes. Focused on improving patient engagement and understanding through effective resource navigation and communication.
Overview
21
21
years of professional experience
Work History
Care Navigator
Strive Healthcare
Denver, Colorado
06.2023 - 08.2026
- Coordinated patient care plans with multidisciplinary healthcare teams to enhance service delivery.
- Assisted patients in navigating complex healthcare systems and resources effectively.
- Educated patients on services and treatment options, enhancing informed decision-making.
- Provided patients with detailed information on available services and treatment options to aid understanding.
- Monitored patient progress and communicated updates to care teams for timely interventions.
- Coordinated referrals to specialists and support services.
- Conducted regular follow-ups to ensure patient satisfaction and engagement.
- Cultivated positive relationships with patients, contributing to improved satisfaction scores and quality of care.
- Developed relationships with community organizations for resource sharing.
- Stayed current on community-based resources and services useful to patients.
- Maintained accurate records of patient interactions, supporting effective assessments and interventions.
- Compiled information from patients and caregivers or family members to identify care concerns.
- Explained policies, procedures and services to patients.
Administrative Assistant
DaVita
Arden, North Carolina
06.2020 - 06.2023
- Provided administrative support to the executive team, including scheduling meetings and managing calendars.
- Coordinated scheduling for patient appointments and staff meetings.
- Managed office supplies and inventory for seamless operations.
- Prepared and maintained confidential patient records and documents.
- Communicated effectively with patients, families, and healthcare providers.
- Assisted in onboarding new employees through orientation processes.
- Organized team events and training sessions to enhance collaboration.
- Maintained adherence to compliance standards in administrative tasks.
- Streamlined office procedures to improve workflow efficiency.
- Answered phone calls and emails to provide information, resulting in effective business correspondence.
- Entered data into spreadsheets using Microsoft Excel or other similar programs.
- Organized and maintained filing systems for physical and electronic documents, ensuring accuracy and confidentiality of records.
- Ensured secure handling and organization of confidential documents to protect sensitive information. in an organized fashion according to established protocol.
- Composed letters, memos, reports, emails, and presentations for management staff.
- Greeted visitors in a professional manner, responding to inquiries and directing them to appropriate personnel.
- Answered questions from customers regarding products and services offered by the company.
- Managed database systems containing customer contact information.
- Ensured efficient operation of office equipment such as printers, copiers and fax machines.
- Coordinated mailings including sorting mail, preparing packages for shipping via courier service or postal service.
- Updated contact lists regularly when changes occur in employee status or contact information.
- Proofread content for typo-free emails and documentation.
- Created travel arrangements and distributed travel details to appropriate personnel.
- Facilitated communication between different departments within the organization.
- Handled incoming calls and directed callers to appropriate department or employee.
Certified Clinical Hemodialysis Technician
DaVita
Arden, North Carolina
10.2005 - 06.2023
- Administered hemodialysis treatments to patients in accordance with established protocols.
- Monitored patients during dialysis treatments for adverse reactions or changes in condition.
- Monitored patient vital signs and reported significant changes to medical staff.
- Operated dialysis machines and maintained equipment to ensure proper functionality.
- Educated patients on treatment processes and self-care after dialysis sessions.
- Collaborated with healthcare team to develop individualized patient care plans.
- Ensured compliance with safety standards and infection control measures during procedures.
- Documented patient records accurately and updated information in electronic health systems.
- Assisted in training new staff on procedures and operational protocols for efficiency.
- Followed infection control measures when cleaning and attaching hemodialysis machine to access sites like fistulas, catheters, and grafts.
- Took and documented patient temperature, blood pressure, pulse and respiration rates before and after dialysis treatment.
- Attached dialyzer and tubing to dialysis machines for use in hemodialysis treatment.
- Initiated and terminated reverse osmosis water system and performed water quality monitoring tests prior to dialysis initiation.
- Primed dialyzer with saline or heparinized solutions and followed formula directions when preparing dialysate.
- Eased patients' anxiety by explaining dialysis procedures and dialysis machine operations.
- Maintained hemodialysis workflow through inventory management and supply restocking.
- Transported patients to and from rooms and prepared for treatments according to individual specifications.
- Operated water purification systems that produce high quality water used in hemodialysis processes.
- Conducted laboratory tests on blood samples taken from patients before and after dialysis sessions.
- Participated in team meetings with physicians and other healthcare professionals to discuss new techniques or procedures related to hemodialysis.
- Assisted physicians with technical procedures such as arteriovenous fistula cannulation and hemodialysis treatments.
- Assisted nurses in providing patient care by performing tasks such as taking vital signs or collecting specimens.
- Maintained accurate records of patient treatments, including the type of treatment received, duration of treatment and any other relevant information.
- Administered medications prescribed by physician prior to, during, and after dialysis treatment.
- Provided education to patients regarding diet, lifestyle modifications, nutrition, fluid management and medication compliance.
- Communicated effectively with patients, families, and healthcare professionals to enhance patient care.
- Performed calculations to assist with medical treatment plans.
- Provided excellent customer service by effectively communicating with patients, families, staff and staff in other hospital departments.
Education
Associate of Arts - Human Services
AB Technical College
Asheville, NC05-2013
High School Diploma -
AC Reynolds High
Asheville, NC06-2005
Some College (No Degree) - Community Healthcare Worker
Ohio University
Athens, OH08-2026
Skills
- Care coordination
- Patient advocacy
- Healthcare communication
- Patient engagement
- Resource navigation
- Treatment education
- Healthcare systems
- Community resources
- Medical terminology
- Patient safety
- Patient intake
- Appointment scheduling
- Schedule coordination
- Appointment confirmation
- Record management
- Medical recordkeeping
- Documentation skills
- Resource identification
- Multitasking
- Attention to detail
- Team collaboration
- Teamwork
- Organizational skills
- Problem-solving abilities
- Reliability and dedication
- Professional demeanor
- Educate patients
- Improve patient care
- Confidentiality
- Healthcare
- Multitasking Abilities
- Attention to detail
- Heartsaver first aid CPR AED
Timeline
Care Navigator
Strive Healthcare
06.2023 - 08.2026
Administrative Assistant
DaVita
06.2020 - 06.2023
Certified Clinical Hemodialysis Technician
DaVita
10.2005 - 06.2023
Associate of Arts - Human Services
AB Technical College
High School Diploma -
AC Reynolds High
Some College (No Degree) - Community Healthcare Worker
Ohio University