POSITION PURPOSE 

The Patient Logistics RN serves as the primary clinical coordinator for complex patient transitions across the healthcare continuum. This role manages inter‑facility transfers by integrating advanced clinical assessment, situational awareness, and real‑time decision-making to ensure patients are placed at the appropriate level of care in a timely and safe manner. Acting as the first clinical point of contact for referring hospitals, providers, and healthcare facilities, the RN evaluates patient acuity, determines appropriate clinical pathways, and anticipates potential risks during transfer or transport. 

The Patient Logistics RN functions as a critical communication hub—linking referring providers, accepting clinicians, receiving units, transport teams, and family members—to ensure accurate, comprehensive, and clinically relevant information flows between all parties. This role requires strong clinical judgment, rapid prioritization skills, and the ability to navigate bed capacity constraints, operational limitations, and emergent care needs. 

Through diligent attention to regulatory requirements, specifically EMTALA and other transfer-related standards, the Patient Logistics RN upholds patient safety, compliance, and continuity of care. By optimizing resources, advocating for patients, and facilitating efficient transitions, this role significantly influences patient outcomes, throughput performance, and overall healthcare system efficiency. 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS 

• Knows, understands, incorporates, and demonstrates the Trinity Health Mission, Vision, and Values in behaviors, practices, and decisions. 

• Facilitates and coordinates patient transfers between healthcare facilities, departments, and units to ensure timely, safe, and appropriate transitions of care.  

• Performs rapid clinical assessments of transfer requests to determine patient acuity, appropriate level of care, and required service line support.  

• Communicates clearly and professionally with physicians, nurses, transport teams, and staff at sending and receiving facilities to ensure complete and accurate clinical information exchange.  

• Manages multiple, concurrent phone interactions and prioritizes tasks effectively to minimize delays in patient movement.  

• Documents all transfer-related information accurately and thoroughly in electronic health records and transfer management systems, ensuring regulatory and EMTALA compliance.  

• Coordinates transportation arrangements, including ground and air medical transport, ensuring appropriate crew level, equipment needs, and patient safety considerations.  

• Monitors real-time bed availability and collaborates closely with bed management and operational teams to optimize placement and throughput.  

• Serves as a clinical resource to internal and external stakeholders regarding transfer processes, level-of-care determinations, and clinical appropriateness.  

• Participates in performance improvement and quality initiatives that support safe, efficient, and patient-centered transfer operations.  

• Demonstrates proficiency with emergency communication systems (e.g., PULSARA) and activates time-sensitive pathways for conditions such as STEMI, stroke, trauma, or ECMO.  

• Anticipates operational or clinical challenges, employs critical thinking, and escalates issues appropriately to maintain safe and efficient patient flow.  

• Collaborates in team education and process refinement, offering feedback, insights, and support to enhance departmental performance. 

• Onboards, orients, and mentors new staff. 

• Performs all other duties as assigned. 

• Maintains a working knowledge of applicable Federal, State, and local laws and regulations, Trinity Health’s Organizational Integrity Program, Standards of Conduct, as well as other policies and procedures in order to ensure adherence in a manner that reflects honest, ethical, and professional behavior.  

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS 

• Graduation from an accredited school of nursing is required

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) is preferred

• Current Iowa RN license or compact RN license recognized but the state of Iowa. IL RN license must be obtained within 12 months of the hire date

• Minimum of 2 years of clinical nursing experience required

• Critical care, emergency, or medical-surgical experience preferred 

• Must be comfortable operating in a collaborative, shared leadership environment

• Must possess a personal presence that is characterized by a sense of honesty, integrity, and caring with the ability to inspire and motivate others to promote the philosophy, mission, vision, goals, and values of Trinity Health and MercyOne