External Transfer Coordinator

At Northwestern Medicine, every patient interaction makes a difference in cultivating a positive workplace. This patient-first approach is what sets us apart as a leader in the healthcare industry. As an integral part of our team, you'll have the opportunity to join our quest for better healthcare, no matter where you work within the Northwestern Medicine system. At Northwestern Medicine, we pride ourselves on providing competitive benefits: from tuition reimbursement and loan forgiveness to 401(k) matching and lifecycle benefits, we take care of our employees. Ready to join our quest for better?

The External Transfer Coordinator reflects the mission, vision, and values of Northwestern Memorial, adheres to the organization’s Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program, and complies with all relevant policies, procedures, guidelines and all other regulatory and accreditation standards.

This role is a registered professional nurse who facilitates the transfer of patients including spinal cord/trauma patients to NMH in collaboration with members of the health care team.  Responsibilities include coordination of the optimal patient placement on appropriate nursing units, communication between sending and receiving nursing units, hospitals and physicians.  This role interfaces with internal and external parties to facilitate patient bed assignment, supplies, and equipment.  The External Transfer Coordinator manages the cost of care through insurance verification and approval, level of care assignment and problem solve other related issues as they are identified.

Responsibilities:

• Intake coordinator for all external transfers including spinal cord/trauma transfers.
• Ensures that NMH physician will accept patient and that communication with sending hospital is complete.
• Integrates and Coordinates the complex communication that occurs between NMH physicians and the sending physician/hospital to the nursing unit receiving the patient.
• Follow the appropriate established guidelines for a Spinal Cord Transfer vs. External Transfer accepted by an Attending physician.
• Assimilates information from multiple sources and determines appropriate bed placement to provide safe, quality care.
• Assures safety and security of patients and staff.

Clinical:

• Demonstrates clinical competence.
• Demonstrates cost effective approach to bed assignment in terms of equipment, supplies and all other resources.
• In all areas of clinical practice follows established polices and procedures.
• Assesses and intervenes in critical situations involving patient assignments, staff, visitors, and consults with manager, director, or hospital administrator for guidance as needed.
• Provide clinical explanations to bed assignment staff if RC must change a patient’s room assignment based on a clinical issue.
• When faced with two requests for one bed on a given unit, assures that the more clinically complex patient is placed on the “home” unit: the less clinically complex patient is overflowed to an appropriate unit.
• Able to identify questionable diagnosis, and asks additional clinical questions so that the patient is assigned to the most appropriate unit and room type (negative airflow, isolation requirements, ICU vs. general care unit assignment, telemetry).
• Performs pre-admission utilization management functions in accordance with established procedures. 
• Masters the use of the utilization management medical necessity criteria to determine appropriate level of care upon admission.
• Monitors and assures clinical appropriateness of services and efficient use of the various levels of care and resources by working closely with members of the health care team, including the attending physician, house staff, and physician advisers on cases which do not meet established criteria.
• Communicates/collaborates with external case managers and payers by providing accurate clinical information as needed.

Actively Participates in Clinical Performance Improvement Activities related to Case Management Services:

• Assists in the collection and reporting of financial indicators including LOS, avoidable days, resource utilization, discharge barriers, cost per case, readmission rates, denial and appeals.
• Uses data to drive decisions and plan/implement performance improvement strategies related to case management for assigned patients/units, including financial, clinical, quality and patient satisfaction data.
• Collects data for discharge delays, over-utilization of resources, avoidable days and other data for specific performance and/or outcome indicators.
• Participates in the development, implementation, evaluation and revision of case management tools in collaboration with healthcare team.
• Participates in department/divisional or hospital committees/task forces.

Professional:

• Exemplifies a professional image in appearance, manner, and presentation.
• Upholds the Northwestern Memorial Hospital policy on patient confidentiality.
• Is an advocate for patients and their significant key other, co-workers, the community, and the nursing profession.
• Consistently demonstrates accountability.
• Champions collaborative practice with co-workers and other disciplines and departments.
• Dynamic representation of the nursing profession in internal and external forums.
• Integrates theoretical knowledge base and clinical expertise in decision making.
• Assumes responsibility for meeting mandatory requirements.
• Assumes responsibility for personal development plan and education related to clinical specialty area

Leadership/Organization:

• Ensures that the environment is clean, attractive, safe and free from hazards for staff.
• Analyzes patterns of daily activities and recommends operational/program changes as needed.
• Coordinates and manages scheduling and assignments for department.
• Anticipates staffing needs for subsequent shifts and assists manager in making necessary arrangements for coverage.
• Functions as a role model for “Patients First” standards in all encounters.
• Facilitates effective interdepartmental communication of incidents with appropriate personnel (manager, division, and department).
• Promotes philosophy and objectives of hospital, division, and department.
• Provides a milieu conducive to communication and cooperation among patients, staff, and visitors.
• Identifies and communicates key issues and trends to managers and makes recommendations for improvement.
• Provides input to manager on budget issues, particularly staffing and cost containment strategies.
• Establishes relationships across departments and divisions to optimize patient care.
• Assist with meeting compliance with the Federal, State, and Local, JCAHO, regulations, policies and procedures.

Education:

• Assumes responsibility for professional development by participates in workshops, conferences, and/or in-services.
• Orients new staff to role and responsibilities.
• Serves as a resource for all staff.

Required: 

• Current license as Registered State of Illinois Professional Nurse or eligible for licensure in the State of Illinois.

• Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing and 2 years minimum experience in the acute care setting

• A high level of interpersonal skills to affect positive External Transfer outcomes.
• Organizational skills necessary to prioritize and manage multiple external transfers at the same time.
• Self-direction required for daily work.
• Analytical skills necessary to independently collect, analyze, and interpret data, resolve problems requiring innovative solutions and to negotiate in sensitive situations.

Preferred: 

• Specialty Certification

• 3 to 5 years previous experience in a variety of clinical areas.

• Basic computer skills and spreadsheets.

Northwestern Medicine is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation or any other protected status.