Employee Profiles: Kris Kurtz, Patient Resources Specialist

Kris Kurtz is a Patient Resources Specialist who works for UW Medical Foundation.

As the  Patient Resources Specialist, I help patients via telephone to navigate the system, find doctors, obtain referrals for assistance programs and solve problems.

I supervise our 2 assistants and oversee the Medication Assistance Program (MAP), which helps patients to obtain free or low cost medication through pharmaceutical companies. I also support the Patient Representatives and Director of Patient Resources.

Our department motto is to always provide 'assistance and not resistance.' Basically, I will try to think of any way possible to help our customers who are new and existing patients, staff and providers, and community organizations.

The most rewarding part of my job is turning an upset and frustrated customer into a satisfied one. One patient actually said 'talking to you is just like Christmas' after I was able to find her some resources. 

UW Medical Foundation supports me by offering training courses to enhance my skills. I've appreciated learning about communication, customer service, supervisory tools, Spanish and many other topics.

My supervisor has been unfailingly supportive and encouraging, as has my work team. We work together to make sure projects are done and all of our patients are being served. In addition to making sure we serve our customers, we also take time to make sure we support each other.