Page 10 - Chehalis Tribal Newsletter - July 2019

10

WELLNESS

staff profiles

Christina Rolfe Melissa Roose

QUALITY IMPROVEMENT COORDINATOR MEDICAL BILLING ASSISTANT

Christina Rolfe has worked Melissa Roose has worked
for the tribe for eight years, in the medical field since 1997
previously in the tribal dental and started with the tribe in
department. June of 2019. Her first thoughts
Before becoming employeed working with the Chehalis Tribe
with the Chehalis Tribe, were that “everyone here is very
she worked in Tenino for 12 welcoming.”
years. She said transitioning The staff gave her a tour and
from Tenino was a natural introduced her to members of
adjustment because the town is other departments. This gave
community-oriented. her a sense of comfort and
The Chehalis Tribe is a understanding of how different
family operation with tight- parts of the tribe operate.
knit community bonds. She enjoys learning all of In the first couple of months, she has focused on
the family connections among tribal members and learning her job functions and exactly what she will
being able to see the growth and development of be responsible for as the billing assistant.
individuals. She is working on invoices for the Wellness
As the Quality Improvement Coordinator, Rolfe Center’s pharmacy and organizes and takes care
is responsible for numerous roles such as quality of lab bills. The dental office is creating a database
care, risk management and the health professional program that Roose will help use to start assisting
licensure and credential process. with dental claims.
Rolfe helps ensure that patients who visit the The Wellness Center
Wellness Center receive quality care and that they ‘It’s very family operates as a team and relies
are comfortable and safe when seeking assistance on learning and resources
from various staff members at the clinic. Constant friendly and from all staff members.
efforts to build comfort and trust among the She works with numerous
community are made by everyone at the Wellness very community- collegues on a daily basis.
Center. oriented.’ A majority of tasks she
Also, Rolfe is responsible for the Accreditation had completed up to this
Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC), – MELISSA ROOSE point have come from help
which is in charge of provision of quality health provided by tribal employees
care through development and implementation of that know the ins and outs
nationally recognized standards. This is to ensure of the clinic.
patients are receiving the best care possible. Her co-workers are there to answer questions
Once the tribe becomes fully accredited, and provide advice on various subjects. She
Rolfe will be responsible for maintaining that explained that coming from the private sector,
accreditation and keeping operations up to national operations are vastly different within the tribal
standards. realm.
Ultimately, she wants to help assist individuals This is Roose’s first time with a tribe. She
live happier, healthier lives. Rolfe and the tribal recognizes that a majority of the care provided is
clinic are seeking feedback from patients to help tribal- or employee-based. She said billing matters
better serve them on an individual basis. are more straightforward because she doesn’t work
Although she transitioned positions, Rolfe still directly with patients regarding billing, rather she
wants to help out in any aspect. She keeps her works with insurance agencies.
dental assisting registration and licensure current Roose said she has met and interacted with
so she is able to help in the dental office whenever nice people within the community. “It’s very family
they need assistance. friendly and very community-oriented.”
Rolfe has three children who are entering early Family is an important part of Roose’s life. She
adulthood. She explained that all of her children loves spending time with her husband and 16-year-
participated in athletic events as they grew up. A old daughter in the outdoors. She said she grew
majority of her free time was spent attending games up spending a lot of time in nature with her father
and practices, which involves a lot of traveling. With when they fished together.
her children grown up, she is adjusting to a new “I knew how to bait my own hook before I
lifestyle as she’s sending them off to college. learned how to ride a bike,” Roose said.