At Northwestern Medicine, every patient interaction makes a difference in cultivating a positive workplace. This patient-first approach is what sets us apart as a leader in the healthcare industry. As an integral part of our team, you'll have the opportunity to join our quest for better healthcare, no matter where you work within the Northwestern Medicine system. At Northwestern Medicine, we pride ourselves on providing competitive benefits: from tuition reimbursement and loan forgiveness to 401(k) matching and lifecycle benefits, we take care of our employees. Ready to join our quest for better?

The Coordinator Worker’s Compensation reflects the mission, vision, and values of NM, adheres to the organization’s Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program, and complies with all relevant policies, procedures, guidelines and all other regulatory and accreditation standards.

Coordinates administration of worker’s compensation for all NM business units and provides expert consulting with the case management of Workers’ Compensation throughout the health system. Coordinates activities with the Third-Party Administrator (TPA) and ensures all service levels are met.

Responsibilities:

Program Development and Improvement:

• Identifies trends, root causes, or other areas of opportunity to decrease injury, reduce cost, and improve program administration.
• Assists with strategy development and program implementation of integrated Workers’ Compensation, Occupational Health, and Employee Safety programs.
• Composes reports and correspondence to ensure communication between employees, managers, Human Resources, and outside vendors.

Liaison and Subject Matter Expert for Employees, Managers, and Human Resources:

• Coordinates administration of Workers’ Compensation, Occupational Health, and Workforce Health and Safety.
• Maintains accurate documentation related in NM’s employee incident report database related absences, medical treatment, injury categorization and OSHA recordable determination.
• Assures appropriate and timely communication of workers’ compensation, occupational health, and employee safety procedures to employees and managers following identification of a potentially compensable work-related injury/illness and/or occupational leave of absences.
• Provides expert consulting with the case management of Workers’ Compensation, Occupational Health, Workforce Health and Safety, and Leave of Absence.
• Researches, analyzes, evaluates, and administers corporate worker’s compensation programs.
• Codes timecards, Peoplesoft entries, and reports approved dates to the Leave Management vendor. 
• Responds to telephone inquiries from employees and outside vendors answering and resolving routine questions, issues, and works with managers and Human Resources as appropriate to resolve more complex issues.
• Coordinates the transitional duty program in collaboration with department managers.
• Audits medical charges from Occupational Health , Pharmacy, Radiology, and other internal hospital charges for appropriate billing; takes action on incorrect charges in relation to Workers Compensation Program.
• Serves as a leader/mentor and subject matter expert to NM staff and management in the areas related to workers’ compensation, occupational health, and employee safety.
• Collaborates with team members in the department to compile reportable data to state and federal governing bodies (e.g., OSHA 300 log and Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission).
• Conducts training related to workers’ compensation, occupational health, and employee safety for all Northwestern business units, as needed.

Liaison with Vendor Partners:

• Act as primary contact with program vendor/s to ensure service levels are met.
• Reviews all reports of occupational and/or non-occupational injuries and illnesses and clarifies diagnoses and work restrictions as necessary from Occupational Health and/or TPA, as appropriate to designated program.
• Assures appropriate occupational injury/illness information is communicated to the workers’ compensation claim and leave management third party administrator in a timely manner.
• Collaborates with third-party vendor and Payroll to ensure proper payment of disability benefits.
• Works with outside counsel to provide information needed for defense of claims.

Additional Functions: 

• Coordinates scheduling of periodic claim review sessions.
• Other responsibilities as designated in the support of organizational and departmental priorities.
• Responsible for monitoring service level agreements with the vendor and escalating any deficiencies.  Additionally, internal service monitoring and management is expected.
• Participates in quality improvement projects. 
• Reviews occupational injury/illness and workers’ compensation-related information and reports this to the appropriate staff and regulatory agencies.
• Maintains department dashboards.

Required:

• Bachelor's degree in business administration, insurance/risk management, human resource management, public administration, occupational health,related field or 4+ years of relevant experience.
• Minimum of 3 years work experience in business administration, insurance/risk management, human resource management, public administration, occupational health or related field.
• Maintain confidentiality in all aspects of the job.
• Must have working knowledge of Excel.
• Excellent critical thinking, analytical, problem solving and interpersonal skills. 
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing, at all levels within and outside the organization.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships inside and outside the organization.
• Ability to follow thru and provide accurate timely response to internal and external customers.
• Ability to work independently and prioritize and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Ability to problem solve and triage concerns, questions, and issues timely/appropriately.
• Ability to organize with attention to detail as it relates to documentation

Preferred:

• Knowledge of accounting, finance, or customer service desired.
• 1-2 years of workers’ compensation, leave management and/or return to work program experience preferred.
• Thorough knowledge of FMLA and related legislation desired.
• Experience with Peoplesoft and/or case management software desired.

Northwestern Medicine is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation or any other protected status.