CASANDRA CACERES, MSN, APRN, FNP-C
**** ****** *****, ****** *******, Texas 78414
Cell: 361-***-**** · Email: ***********@*****.***
OBJECTIVE
Pursuing a responsible, challenging position where proven ability and experience could be utilized.
Prime consideration will be given to position offering opportunity for professional growth.
PROFESSIONAL STRENGTHS
ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE AND COORDINATE WITH CO-WORKERS AND PATIENTS
SKILLED IN THE PRIORITIZATION OF TASKS TO SUCCESSFULLY MEET DEADLINES
PROVEN ABILITY TO SOLVE COMPLEX PROBLEMS FOR MAXIMUM EFFICIENCY
PROFESSIONAL HIGHLIGHTS
MCCI / Conviva Care Solutions November 2017 – January 2019
Managed the “At Home Program” with the assistance of a medical assistant. The program was initiated to fill the gap between high utilization, non-compliant, frequent hospitalization patients and their PCP. I worked independently and was supervised by the regional medical director. The patient would be referred to our program and we would admit the patient to our service. Home visits, usually no less than one hour in length would occur no less than monthly, but typically every one to two weeks based on acuity. The goal was to manage the patient’s care at the highest level to contain costs, prevent hospitalizations, meet HEDIS criteria. The program provided services such as wound care, IV infusion, routine vaccines, medication management, antibiotic/steroid/fluid restriction/fluid overload/failure to thrive, post-hospitalization coordination with ancillary services, i.e., DME, home health, hospice. Patient population included but not limited to: fragile, uncontrolled diabetics, uncontrolled COPD, post CVA/MI, dialysis, bedbound, post amputee, etc. On occasion and based on my clinical expertise would refer patient to ER and/or hospice when patient no longer met program guidelines. The program was a consequence of corporate cutbacks and was not funded for 2019.
Christus Family Health Center August 2017-November 2017
Provide comprehensive primary care for assigned patients. Evaluate outcomes of direct patient care and consults with other specialists as required. Adjust processes as indicated to ensure optimal patient care. Arrange for patients’ ordered diagnostic and therapeutic services. Monitor and ensure accuracy of recording on patient medical records. Provide preventive health care services to long-term patients and arrange consultations and referrals. Perform physical exams, and prescribe and recommend treatment and drugs.
Concentra June 2015 – April 2018
Occupational and urgent care clinic. Provide DOT examinations, triage urgent care patients, assess and treat injuries sustained on the job. Experience with EMR, worker’s compensation.
Humana April 2016 - Present
Perform in-home health risk assessments for seniors insured under the Medicare Advantage plans and provide in-home assessments including diagnosis, treatment plan and medication management. Report to PCP any discrepancies related to medications and/or care.
Dr. Luis Bieler, MD June 2016 – November 2016
Primary care for patients across the life span. Manage new and established patients and their families. Disease prevention and management, acute care, urgent care, sick visits, well visits, physicals. Wellness visits for children, immunizations, education, women’s healthcare, PAPs, STD screenings, birth control education and management and other duties as assigned. Manage EMR, HEDIS criteria, multiple insurance companies and protocols related to individual plans. Post hospital and surgical patients. Home health and DME management.
San Antonio Family Practice April 2015 – May 2016
Primary care for patients from birth to the elderly. Manage new patients, disease prevention/management, sick visits, well-woman exams, physicals, wound care management, minor procedures.
United Healthcare, House Calls November 2014 – May 2015
Provide home visits for United Healthcare recipients. A head to toe physical assessment, medication review, and urgent/emergent social and/or clinical issues are addressed. Visits are comprehensive and may include post-surgical, post-hospital stay/ER visits. Coordination of care with member’s primary care provider is shared via a phone call when necessary, and a comprehensive written report detailing the home visit is also provided to PCP.
South Padre Island Pediatric Clinic August 2014 – Present
Provide primary care to pediatric patients ranging in age from neonate to 21 years of age. Management of special needs children, disease prevention/management, medication management/administration and follow-up, wound care management, minor procedures as necessary
Dezavala Family Clinic January 2014 – June 2014
Clinical Rotation and PRN work with Dr. Sara Apsley-Ambriz, DO
Provide primary care to patients; census includes well-woman exams, physicals, disease prevention, disease management, medication management/administration and follow-up, wound care management, minor procedures as necessary
Amistad Clinic January 2014 – April 2014
Clinical rotation accepting new patients, disease prevention/management, sick visits, well-woman exams, physicals, wound care management, minor procedures as necessary
Provided 270 primary care hours under the direct supervision of Dr. Rafael Garcia, MD
President/CEO/Administrator/Director of Nursing January 2009 – February 2014
Akeso Health Services dba Oasis Home Healthcare
Responsible for overall daily operations of multi-million dollar agency; recruiting/hiring/firing, payroll, accounts receivable, accounts payable, fiscal accountability.
Monitor and supervise care provided by agency RNs, LVNs, PT/OT/ST Therapists, and contract personnel including coordination of care efforts from multiple provider/physician primary practices.
Serve as resource liaison for patients, agency staff, physicians and contract personnel.
Provide 24 hour administrative call for agency servicing 13 contiguous counties.
Ensure accuracy of medical/clinical records through QAPI and develop Plans of Correction to be implemented if necessary.
Prepare budgets, manage financial statements, billing Medicaid/Medicare and multiple private payor sources, AP/AR, human resources, corporate compliance, submit annual agency evaluation to board of directors/governing body, worker’s compensation, payroll, risk management, provide cost reports to Medicare annually as mandated by participatory guidelines.
Provide services based on a licensed and certified Medicaid/Medicare home health agency. This business is guided by state and federal regulatory agencies including OIG, Texas Department of Aging and Disability, and various Medicare/Medicaid regulatory entities. Assume overall responsibility of growth and development of Oasis Home Healthcare.
Oasis Home Healthcare has been awarded for the last 2 years the prestigious accolade of being named to the top 25% home health agencies in the nation by HomeCare Elite. The criterion is based on fiscal accountability, patient satisfaction, and patient care outcomes.
Owner/Operator May 2005 – Present
J’s Place
Purchased and opened a cafe in May 2005.
Hours of operation are Monday-Friday, 0730-1500, closed weekends and holidays.
J’s Place offers a full breakfast and lunch menu; catering and meetings are also provided.
Responsible for daily operation of restaurant, hiring/firing, orientation and training, cooking, payroll, purchasing, compliance with state, federal, local, and payroll taxes.
Pediatric Manager March 2007 – August 2007
Christus HomeCare
Responsible for initiating and implementing Pediatric Home Health Program in Corpus Christi and surrounding areas for Christus Healthcare System, services included Skilled Nursing, Private Duty Nursing, PT, OT, and ST Services.
Effectively established various contracts with local therapy agencies, private insurance providers and Medicaid providers; Humana, WellMed, PHC, Superior Health Plan, Driscoll Children’s Health Plan, and AmeriGroup, etc.
Responsible for hiring LVN/RN staff to provide services for program ensuring qualifications, providing orientation, and training suitable for home care.
Provided intake, admitted patients to service, and scheduled services to be performed.
Obtained authorization to provide services from various insurances and provided documentation to substantiate care being provided.
Managed nursing/therapy schedules, on-call 24 hours, provided QAPI, input payroll for nurses and contract therapist, managed medical records and ensured appropriateness of care and that the plan of care was being followed.
Coordinated and transitioned patients from an in-patient hospital care status (long-term, intensive care) to home health care services constantly keeping primary care physician, case manager, and parents abreast of patient’s status, treatment plan, overall progress and/or deterioration.
RN Manager December 2006 – March 2007
Save Home Health Care
Designed, developed, and managed a pediatric program for a Medicare certified agency.
Negotiated and acquired contract status with Texas Medicaid and federal Medicare Programs to provide skilled nursing and therapy services to special needs infants and children up to age 21.
Programs included; Comprehensive Care Program (CCP), Medically Dependent Children’s Program (MDCP), Early Childhood Intervention (ECI), School Health and Related Services (SHARS) and THeSTEPS for rehab clients.
Admitted patients to service, developed a plan of care and submitted to state to obtain authorization to provide services.
Established medical necessity criteria and ensured plan of care being followed by nursing/therapists. Services typically provided for long-term chronic special needs population.
Followed standards of care and guidelines provided by HCSSA, state regulatory and federal conditions of participation.
Through collaborative efforts with primary care physicians, specialists, and ancillary staff, provided care to patients that would otherwise be institutionalized for health care management until services no longer warranted or the patients demise.
Frequent follow-up, documentation and changes or amendments to plan of care were necessary to meet needs of patient/family, physician and payor sources.
Within 3 months of the inception of the program, the agency experienced a 40% increase in billable revenue.
Administrator/Director/Texas Regional Manager September 2002 – November 2006
Deaconess Homecare/Deaconess Rehab
Responsible for overall daily operations of multimillion dollar agencies in Corpus Christi, Mc Allen, Harlingen, Houston, and the newly established outpatient rehabilitation facility in Alice, Texas.
Monitored and supervised care provided by agency RNs, LVNs, Therapists, and contract personnel.
Direct report to President of corporation.
Provided 24 hour administrative call for agency.
Ensured accuracy of medical/clinical records through QAPI and developed Plans of Correction to be implemented if necessary as a result of inquiry from a regulatory agency.
Prepared budgets, managed financial statements, billing Medicaid and multiple private payor sources, AP/AR, human resources, corporate compliance, submitted annual agency evaluation to board of directors/governing body, worker’s compensation, payroll, risk management.
Provide services based on a licensed and certified Medicaid/Medicare home health agency.
Guided by state regulations and federal conditions of participation.
Assumed overall responsibility of growth and development of Deaconess HomeCare in Texas.
PACU Coordinator February 1999 – September 2002
Driscoll Children’s Hospital
The PACU Coordinator assumed responsibility and accountability for the overall direction of licensed and unlicensed PACU personnel and activities.
Responsibilities also included, but not limited to; interviewing, hiring, payroll, budget, variance reports, time and attendance tracking, counseling of staff, providing staff competencies according to patient needs, orientation of new staff, staff schedule, monthly in-services for staff, yearly evaluations of staff, statistical reports, development and documentation of PACU Standards, Policies and Procedures, Risk management and PI/QA Activities.
On– Call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Utilized as staff when necessary.
Doubled staff based on standards of care provided by ASPAN and virtually eliminated overtime.
Reorganized unit to provide care to individual needs of patient; installed dimmers for eye surgery patients and segregated minimal stimulation patients for better outcomes.
Revised PACU notes to comply with hospital policies and standards of care.
Developed tool to grade nurses based on competency, skill and experience; assisted in assigning acuity. Initiated, developed, and implemented core competencies for PACU unit.
Post Anesthesia Care Unit RN October 1998 – February 1999
Driscoll Children’s Hospital
Transitioned post-anesthesia patients with emphasis on airway and pain management.
Initial assessment and recovery of neonates, infants, children, and adults following surgery, radiology, and heart catheterization.
Managed ASA I - ASAV and trauma/emergency cases.
Coordinated care of patients with anesthesiologists and surgeons.
Served as on-call RN for department, accepting full responsibility for primary care of patients after hours of operation, weekends, and holidays.
Accepted charge nurse responsibilities as needed. Utilized as interim educator and preceptor.
Neonate Intensive Care Unit RN December 1996 – October 1998
Driscoll Children’s Hospital
Provided primary care to Level II / Level III neonates.
Extensive experience with ventilators, oscillators, pre-operative and post-operative patients.
Preceptor for unit
Served on Bereavement Committee.
Scheduling Coordinator September 1990 – July 1993
Spohn Hospital
Responsible for implementation and coordination of the daily activities relating to the operations of the Obstetrics Managed-Care Program.
A 7 million dollar contract between Champus and Spohn Hospital to provide obstetric care to military wives and personnel for the entire South Texas area.
Designed and created database for program.
Education
University of Texas San Antonio, TX 1986 General Education Requirements
Del Mar College Corpus Christi, TX 1996 Associate Degree in Nursing, RN
Texas A & M University Corpus Christi, TX 1998 Bachelor of Science in Nursing, BSN
Texas A & M University Corpus Christi, TX 2014 Master of Science in Nursing, MSN
Licenses & Certificates
Department of Transportation Medical Examiner
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
Advanced Certification for Administrator of Home Health Agency
Department of Transportation Medical Examiner (DOT)
Honors and Activities
1996 Associate Degree in Nursing
1996 Inducted into Phi Theta Kappa Society
1996 Outstanding Student in Nursing Education
1998 Bachelor of Science in Nursing with Honors
1999 Inducted into Sigma Theta International Honor Society of Nursing
2014 Master of Science in Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner, Magna Cum Laude
Professional Involvement
American Association of Nurse Practitioners
CHRISTUS Spohn Corpus Christi Ambassador
Sigma Theta Tau International