Clinical Coordinator

Overview:
Our team members are the heart of what makes us better. At Hackensack Meridian Health we help our patients live better, healthier lives — and we help one another to succeed. With a culture rooted in connection and collaboration, our employees are team members. Here, competitive benefits are just the beginning. It’s also about how we support one another and how we show up for our community. Together, we keep getting better - advancing our mission to transform healthcare and serve as a leader of positive change. 

 

We invite you to listen to a message from our CNO who shares what it's like to be part of Team HMH at Jersey Shore University Medical Center:

 

 

Responsibilities:
The Clinical Coordinator Patient Progression RN is responsible for all activities related to Capacity Management including, but not limited to, coordinating the patient placement, and the patient flow required to provide appropriate, effective, and efficient patient care. The Patient Progression RN is empowered to remove barriers and bottlenecks related to patient placement and flow. Notifies and communicates with Nurse Managers, Administrative Supervisors, Physicians, Medical Directors on Call, and Administrator on Call when appropriate.

 

A day in the life of a Clinical Coordinator Patient Progression RN  at Hackensack Meridian Health includes:

 

Uses clinical expertise to coordinate the placement of elective and emergent admissions as well as transfers from other facilities in accordance with clinical standards and guidelines ensuring that all patients are admitted or transferred to the most appropriate available bed.

Clinically knowledgeable of disease entities, epidemiological issues, and circumstances that have implications for the placement of patients.

Assures communication and implementation of the Patient Progression plan for the day as defined at the daily bed meeting to the patient placement staff and all patient care areas, physicians, senior leadership and operations departments as needed.

Communicates daily Patient Progression plan to the evening staff and Nursing Supervisors to assure continued implementation and focus on the day¿s plan.

Reviews patients¿ conditions as necessary, independently, or in conjunction with case management staff, ED, Nursing Supervisor, or charge nurse to ensure appropriate placement for required services.

Tracks bed availability, maintaining appropriate logs/records.

Works directly with Plant Ops and Environmental Services on room renovation or repairs

Direct oversight of the Daily Census Bed Reports (3 times a day).

Walking rounds on all nursing units to identify & discuss barriers to discharge, build relationships with staff & educate staff to the role of the Patient Progression RN.

Monitors bed availability on all nursing units as well as pending discharges assessing the ability to meet the needs of the cath lab, ED, PACU, and direct admissions.

Acts as a resource to patient placement staff as to the type of patient that each unit can accept and the type of equipment or medications that can be used or given on each unit, using policies and procedures as a guide.

Makes recommendations to the Manager of Patient Progression for closing or downsizing units and manages the transfer of patients from the ED/PACU or direct admits when an overflow unit is opened assuring that patients are admitted in a controlled manner.

Regularly communicates with and provides status reports to Manager of Patient Progression regarding impending need for divert, operating room holds, or cath lab delays. Calls additional bed meetings as needed.

Knowledge of ED volume of patients and type

Regularly communicates with the infection control department to ensure appropriate precautions and patient placement.

Assesses for hall appropriate or discharge lounge appropriate patients.

Assists with telemetry transports out of the ED and/or interunit as needed

Plans interunit transfers in a predictive way to improve throughput

Tracks potential discharges

Escalates up any barriers to discharge or transfer

Plans, organizes and prioritizes tasks to meet critical deadlines in a fast-paced environment

Utilizes technology to maintain accurate files and reports, and to prepare and analyze data

Demonstrates the ability to work with others to achieve and support the mission of the medical center

Demonstrates accountability for the professional development of self and peers through formal and informal education and evaluation in collaboration with Professional Education

Demonstrates effective communication skillet to reduce barriers to communication for all staff

Executes patient progression functions on multiple hospital computer systems to assign beds in accordance with all applicable policies, protocols, medical board rulings, and overall philosophy of the medical center

Prioritizes admission sources (i.e., cath lab, ED, PACU, Transfer Center) to minimize delays and enhance patient flow

Prepares and distributes the census report and other documents as needed

Monitors blocked beds and collaborates with Managers to ensure beds are not blocked unnecessarily. Appropriately assigns private rooms to minimize the need to block beds

Collaborates with Managers to facilitate internal bed requests to mitigate delays in ensuring the patient is located in the appropriate level of care, nursing unit type, and preferred room type.

Communicates individual bed plans and status updates with appropriate stakeholders

Prepares and provides real-time capacity status of the medical center on demand as requested (i.e., disaster response)

Utilizes downtime procedures when appropriate

Demonstrates strong problem solving skills while making clear decisions in a fast-paced environment

Demonstrates active listening skills to accurately interpret and respond to inquiries

Provides superior customer service for all types of interactions by maintaining a positive, friendly and pleasant attitude at all times. Seeks to improve the customer's experience by minimizing hold times and speaking clearly and confidently without hesitation. Keeps customers informed regarding updates on requests until resolution is achieved

Demonstrates a team-focused collaborative attitude in which it is clear that there is a willingness to support the department's goals and vision and a willingness to work flexible hours as needed to ensure 24/7/365 service to the medical center

Adheres to HMH Organizational competencies and standards of behavior.

Qualifications:
Current and valid New Jersey Registered Nurse License is required

BSN in progress and/or willing and able to acquire within three (3) years of hire (NOTE: This applies only to team members hired into this position on or after November 2019).

Three (3) years of professional nursing experience

Knowledge of nursing principles, practices, and techniques

Knowledge of state and agency laws and regulations governing professional nursing practices

Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Proficient computer skills that may include but are not limited to Microsoft Office and/or Google Suite platforms

National nursing certification preferred 

Masters degree in nursing or other related field preferred 

Previous experience in bed management / patient progression preferred 

If you feel that the above description speaks directly to your strengths and capabilities, then please apply today

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