Patient Flow Coordinator - RN

ED Patient Flow Coordinator

The ED Patient Flow Coordinator is responsible for the overall movement of patients through the ED in a safe and efficient manner. The position will coordinate all patient care activities and be a liaison to the ED physician to ensure that care will be delivered in a safe and efficient manner. The ED Patient Flow Coordinator appropriately delegates the workload and is a role model for teamwork, leadership and professionalism in the ED.

Responsibilities

Job Function Patient Flow

• Performs compliance requirements as outlined in the Employee Handbook.
• Manages front line operations of area of accountability related to meeting/exceeding departmental goals, 5 keys of excellence, DCH Mission and Vision.
• Serves the liaison to the Triage RN, and will give a "quick look" triage to those patients received via ambulance.
• Acts as a physician liaison by anticipating the patient's plan and aggressively updating and expediting the plan of care with the physician.
• Has authority to direct all of the team members regarding prioritization and patient flow.
• Helps minimize physician interruption by serving as a point person for the MDs and by facilitating communication with all other providers.
• Assigns patients to teams and rooms.
• Monitors room availability and turnover.
• Assures that orders, specimen collections and treatments are coordinated.
• Notifies the MD and other providers when a patient is ready for disposition.
• Is a liaison with other departments and checks on delays in all sub-processes, including lab, pharmacy and consults.
• Coordinates admissions and transfers.
• Monitors tracking board, oversees use of tracking board for caregivers and keeps data current.
• Maintains the ED teams (Care Track, etc.) and encourages the teams to abide by the team guidelines.
• Sets priorities for patient placement by setting priorities for ED admits and discharges.
• Communicates with the Administrative Supervisors on ongoing basis as unit situation changes.
• Uses triggers/criteria to eliminate potential bottlenecks.
• Ensuring use of set protocols when appropriate.

Job Function Staffing

• Attends "ED Huddles" and communicates accurate information including current patients in ED, potential admissions, staffing needs/status and number of "borders"
• Provides minimal clinical intervention with patients, but provides clinical consultation to all caregivers.
• Collaborates with Department Team Leader on moving staff to expedite patient flow.

Job Function Quality Management

• Reports status of patient flow processes and team performance in ED Committee and Patient Throughput Team and contributes to problem resolution and modifications of processes as necessary.
• Is accountable for defined quality measures including patient wait times in the ED.
• Holds staff nurses and MD's accountable for defined quality measures for patients wait time.

Job Function Leadership and Teamwork

• Addresses and resolves patient flow problems during his/her shift.
• Leads by example by modeling professional behaviors in solving problems, and customer service. Encourage practices open communication among all staff members.
• Demonstrates and maintains clinical excellence in Emergency Nursing Clinical Practice.
• Demonstrates the ability to perform in a professional manner during crisis or emergency situations.
• Provides feedback to staff regarding performance and reports staff performance concerns to the Team leader and communicates any issues involving Providers with Lead Physician or ED Medical Director.
• Maintains exemplary attendance and availability according to department need.
• Collaborates with peers to assure coverage of role (ie: unexpected absences, vacation time, etc.).
• Encourages a safe environment by promoting adherence to established protocols, policies and procedures.
• Displays sound judgment and critical thinking skills in areas of decision-making and problem-solving.
• Directs activities toward support of DCH Mission and achievement of Department goals and objectives.
• Communicates information verbally and in writing to appropriate persons.
• Demonstrates knowledge of documentation and down-time procedures.
• Observes and practices DCH policy concerning patient confidentiality including on-line information and the Medical Record on file.
• Performs initial and annual competency per job class.

DCH Standards:

• Maintains performance, patient and employee satisfaction and financial standards as outlined in the performance evaluation.
• Performs compliance requirements as outlined in the Employee Handbook.
• Must adhere to the DCH Behavioral Standards including creating positive relationships with patients/families, coworkers, colleagues and with self.
• Performs essential job functions in a manner that ensures the safety of patients, visitors and employees.
• Identifies and reduces unsafe practices that may result in harm to patients, visitors and employees.
• Recognizes and takes appropriate action to reduce risks and hazards to promote safety for patients, visitors and employees.
• Requires use of electronic mail, time and attendance software, learning management software and intranet.
• Must adhere to all DCH Health System policies and procedures.
• All other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

RN with current Alabama Licensure. BSN or minimum of two (2) years RN experience required. Recent 2-year RN experience in the Emergency Department setting required. Current American Heart Association (AHA) Basic Life Support (BLS) Provider training required. Current AHA Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) training, Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) training and Trauma Nursing Core Course (TNCC) required. Basic MS Word and MS Excel skills required. Experience performing as charge nurse for a minimum of 6 months. Must have demonstrated appropriate clinical knowledge to evaluate and prioritize patient flow issues. Must have prior experience in leadership, clear communication and problem-solving, setting appropriate priorities, working in teams and appropriate delegation. Must be able to read, write legibly, speak, and comprehend English.

Work Context

• Demonstrate leadership skills
• Requires decision making that will affect others
• Responsible to achieve outcomes
• Must be able to communicate clearly and accurately
• Ability to delegate to team members and students
• Must be able to receive delegation
• Address conflict and stressful situation
• Communicate with different personalities and engage in face to face discussion
• Dealing with unpleasant or verbally/physically aggressive personalities
• Must be able to use electronic mail, telephone and texting
• Must be able to work in groups
• Must be able to perform structured and unstructured work
• Must be able to meet time pressure and time lines
• Includes possible exposure to human body fluids, disease, infection, lab chemicals and hazardous materials and/or cleaning solutions
• Requires wearing of common protective and safety equipment such as gloves, safety glasses, mask, gowns, etc.

Physical Factors

• Medium work.
• Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 30 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.
• Must be able to tolerate prolonged periods of standing and walking.
• Must be able to reach reasonable distances in any direction
• Must be able to stand, walk, kneel, bend, sit and stoop
• Must be able to run in an emergency
• Must have the ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull and carry objects
• Must be able to move fingers in a coordinated manner and must be ablet o feel and perceive temperature, texture, shape and size with fingertips
• Must be able to perform the duties with or without reasonable accommodation
• Must possess stamina to work prolonged shifts
• Hearing and vision must be normal or corrected to within