Summary

This is a Registered Nurse who is responsible for the facilitation of accurate patient placement into the health system based on clinical relevance, with integration of care management skills to support organizational fiscal goals.  Supports the patient throughput assistant in daily work and acts as the clinical expert/decision-maker for daily throughput for BHS.  This clinical expert is responsible for the daily work of integrating clinical and financial components to accurately reflect the appropriate level of care and patient placement decisions.  Manages and coordinates BH ED patient admission requests and Regional Transfer Center requests for correct placement into BH hospitals, where care can be provided in the right setting.  Consult specialty providers for transfer requests seeking specialty services to ensure care can be provided prior to acceptance.  Manages all internal flow/throughput for patients who may need to move from one level of care or bed to another.  The candidate will be responsible for upholding decision-making processes related to the management of appropriate bed assignments and patient flow.

Requirements

1) Uses Patient Placement skills, insures that patients move efficiently from the access point to the appropriate level of care and location.  Review all cases on admission to identify the level of care, and potential need for practice guideline utilization, to determine the anticipated LOS and anticipated care needed for each patient.   Works with the health care team to proactively evaluate medical, psychosocial, and physical needs of patient and family, ensuring appropriate bed placement for care.  Is a resource to members of the health care team for appropriate management as outlined in the evidence-based practice guidelines

2) Uses Utilization Analysis /Management principles, to ensure that the patient’s site of care delivery is appropriate, in collaboration with other disciplines as necessary.  On admission performs utilization analysis using pre-established screening criteria and guidelines, nursing expertise, and sound judgment in accordance with departmental policies.  Communicates utilization analysis information as appropriate to the health care team.

3) Uses patient placement knowledge to facilitate and coordinate the request for an appropriate bed, based on the level of care and clinical needs of the patient, acts as the patient throughput decision maker. Responsible for upholding decision-making processes related to the management of appropriate bed assignments.  Assesses appropriateness for admission and level of care.  Communicates changes in the level of care to the health care team and facilitates the discussion of plans for delivering care in the appropriate setting.  Intervenes as appropriate utilizing departmental policies and communicating excessive length of stay/placement problems/ other issues to the department manager.

4) Uses Clinical Skills and Knowledge to ensure quality, evidence-based care is provided and the patient is assigned to the appropriate level of care with the correct status. Identifies patient's needs to appropriately place the patient to the correct unit and BH hospital.

5) Participates in Quality Management initiatives, assists department manager in collection of data and supporting metrics for the patient throughput department.  Participates in department performance metrics achievement and sustainment process

6) Determines the need for physician intervention/review of patients not meeting admission or transfer criteria to ensure admission/transfer is needed.  

7) Coordinates 3-way calls with providers for acceptance of Transfer Center requests, consults specialists prior to transfer when needed, and plans bed assignments after acceptance.  Escalates to service line leaders when Transfer Center requests do not result in timely provider response as per guidelines or when conflicting information needs attention.

8) Collaborates with clinical supervisor on patient placement needs and escalates barriers or issues that occur on the nursing floors that hinder throughput.

9) Works with unit staff to ensure timely bed placement, helps identify plans accordingly for each unit, to review capacity verses demand.  Seeks alternative units when demand exceeds a unit's capability for level loading and optimizing flow.

10) Monitors and assesses clinical needs for patients placed in-house to determine triage capability, collaborates with MDs on clinical need     

11) Demonstrates effective and Professional Work Habits in conjunction with hospital policies and operating principles.  Maintains currency with mandatory programs and education records in accordance with hospital and departmental  guidelines

12) Is a resource and content expert for use of throughout software and Transfer Center applications.    

13) Provide resource information and seek alternate locations to care for the patient when the primary unit is unavailable for bed placement. 

14) Works collaboratively with the Patient Placement Assistant. Ensures effective communication for bed placement plans for patient flow and transfer center requests to coordinate throughput.

Required Experience

5 years of clinical nursing experience

Preferred Experience

5 years of ED, Critical Care nursing experience

Skills/Competencies

Requires a working knowledge of community resources and Utilization/Quality Review standards.

Must have the Ability to organize and prioritize workload in order to meet deadlines.

Understanding of the hospital's patient placement guidelines to support patient throughput. 

Critical thinking with the ability to assess and prioritize decisions in a rapidly changing environment.  Must possess excellent interpersonal skills in order to interact with all levels of health care providers and support staff.

Excellent computer, telephone, organizational, and relationship-building skills.    

Education:

Certifications:

Compensation

Note: The compensation range(s) in the table below represent the base salaries for all positions at a given grade across the health system. Typically, a new hire can expect a starting salary somewhere in the lower part of the range. Actual salaries may vary by position and will be determined based on the candidate's relevant experience. No employee will be paid below the minimum of the range. Pay ranges are listed as hourly for non-exempt employees and based on assumed full time commitment for exempt employees.

Minimum - Midpoint - Maximum

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer