Melanie Azevedo

Compassionate and empathetic healthcare professional with strong organizational, interpersonal and communication skills. Experienced in analyzing and summarizing medical reports with advanced medical terminology knowledge. Skilled problem-solver and team player comfortable working in fast-paced environments.

Able to communicate in four languages (fluent in English and Portuguese, intermediate in Spanish and French). Strong understanding of human behaviour and knowledge of both physical and psychological states of patients.

Disability Claims Specialist - Southlake Regional Health Center

(2023-03)

• Regular presentations to managers and unions with regard to claim management progress on files
• Interact professionally with a diverse group of people regarding management of claims (managers, union representation, wsib, treatment providers)
• Prioritize work continually and produce a significant volume of work efficiently with performance standards
• Monitor the action plan's progress on a regularly scheduled basis and revise plans as needed
• Identifies, obtains and analyzes key medical, contractual and eligibility information
• Seek opportunities to accept and participate in challenges and developmental opportunities
• Help and collaborate with others on highly complex files
• Adjudicate and manage complex and seamless disability claims from initial claim to return to work within strict service level agreements
• Provide team support to peer group during high volume periods and absences

LTD Case Manager - Disability Management Institute - Toronto, Ontario

(2021-10 - 2022-12)

• Monthly to quarterly presentations to employers with regard to claim management progress
• Interact professionally with a diverse group of people regarding management of claims (executives, managers, legal, and subject matters)
• Prioritize work continually and produce a significant volume of work efficiently with performance standards
• Monitor the action plan's progress on a regularly scheduled basis and revise plans as needed
• Identifies, obtains and analyzes key medical, contractual and eligibility information
• Seek opportunities to accept and participate in challenges and developmental opportunities
• Help and collaborate with others on highly complex files
• Adjudicate and manage complex long-term, appeals and seamless disability claims from initial claim to return to work within strict service level agreements
• Provide team support to peer group during high volume periods and absences

LTD Case Manager - SSQ - Toronto, Ontario

(2021-03 - 2021-09)

• Monthly to quarterly presentations to employers with regard to claim management progress
• Interact professionally with a diverse group of people regarding management of claims (executives, managers, legal, and subject matters)
• Prioritize work continually and produce a significant volume of work efficiently with performance standards
• Monitor the action plan's progress on a regularly scheduled basis and revise plans as needed
• Identifies, obtains and analyzes key medical, contractual and eligibility information
• Seek opportunities to accept and participate in challenges and developmental opportunities
• Help and collaborate with others on highly complex files
• Adjudicate and manage complex long-term, appeals and seamless disability claims from initial claim to return to work within strict service level agreements
• Provide team support to peer group during high volume periods and absences

LTD Case Manager - Manulife Financial - Toronto, Ontario

(2017-01)

• Quarterly presentations to employers with regard to claim management progress
• Interact professionally with a diverse group of people regarding management of claims (executives, managers, legal, and subject matters)
• Prioritize work continually and produce a significant volume of work efficiently with performance standards
• Monitor the action plan's progress on a regularly scheduled basis and revise plans as needed
• Identifies, obtains and analyzes key medical, contractual and eligibility information
• Seek opportunities to accept and participate in challenges and developmental opportunities
• Help and collaborate with others on highly complex files
• Adjudicate and manage complex long-term, appeals and seamless disability claims from initial claim to return to work within strict service level agreements
• Provide team support to peer group during high volume periods and absences

STD Case Manager - Manulife Financial - Toronto, Ontario

(2014-01 - 2017-12)

• Adjudicate and manage complex short-term, appeals and seamless disability claims from initial claim to return to work within strict service level agreements
• Assessment of client via telephone interview
• Conduct and coordinate community programs and vocation rehabilitation efforts leading to reduction of claims experience
• Develop an appropriate return-to-work goal with the employee and employer and provide support for the return-to-work planning process
• Review and research the policies, agreements and legal precedents affecting disability claims
• Communicate with medical, legal, human resources and occupational/physiotherapy health and other health experts in the assessment of claims
• Manage and develop excellent relations with Employees, Employers, External HR, doctors, internal Rehabilitation Consultants and Medical Coordinators to facilitate return to work focused plans
• Prepare cost-benefit analyses of proposed budgets to validate claims management expenses
• Provided coaching and mentoring to new case managers and member of the process improvement team for the Toronto Disability department
• Part of the Manulife Financial social committee from 2014-2016

Kinesiologist - Active Body Physical Therapy - Lakeshore, Ontario

(2012-01 - 2014-12)

• Working daily side by side with physiotherapist
• Working with patients on daily exercises and routines
• Working on patients functional recovery programs
• Working on getting patients back to work
• Analyzing Physical Demands Analysis reports
• Summarizing medical reports for occupational therapist
• Completed Functional Capacity Evaluations
• Worked with medical equipment: ultrasound, tense-machine
• Build trust and lasting relationships with patients and co-workers
• Worked reception on Saturday

Help Desk Volunteer - Windsor Regional Hospital - Windsor, Ontario

(2012-01 - 2012-12)

• Transport patients, charts, and flowers to different departments
• Greet visitors
• Familiarity with hospital departments and function

ER Volunteer - Leamington District Hospital - Leamington, Ontario

(2012-01 - 2012-12)

• Cleaning, stocking medical equipment, transporting patients

BSC Honors - Human Kinetics with a minor in Psychology - University of Windsor (2007-01 - 2011-12)

CPR/First Aid - Sherk Recreational Complex (2011-01 - 2011-12)

Matheson Certification - Performing Functional Capacity Evaluations - Chicago (2012-01 - 2012-12)