Patient Flow Coordinator

Overview

The Patient Flow Coordinator is responsible for the efficient, timely coordination of health care services provided to numerous patient populations within VCUHS and the community. The role supports and coordinates all patient placement activities and bilateral transfer coordination for all VCU affiliated hospitals and the community through the One Call Center and helps coordinate psych intake with the psychiatric admissions representatives.

The Patient Flow Coordinator anticipates problems, takes initiative to resolve issues with minimal direction, adheres to department policies and procedures, and monitors compliance with policies governing patient placement, EMTALA regulations, and registration procedures.

• Coordinates patient flow throughout each hospital based upon the clinical status of the patient, including patient triage, bed placement, and various transfer functions, in a timely and orderly manner to provide an optimal level of care for all VCU affiliated hospital patients.
• Serves as a clinical resource for complex and difficult patient care situations as well as an administrative resource for complex bed assignments.
• Works with physicians, Nurse Managers, Clinical Coordinators, charge nurses, EVS, patient transportation, the Bed Management Specialist, and epidemiology to identify proactive strategies to address patient flow barriers.
• Coordinates and triages appropriate acceptance for all transfer referrals into VCUMC and facilitates bed placement by collaborating with Bed Management.
• Coordinates and triages outbound transfer referrals from all VCUHS affiliated hospitals, including coordination of acceptance and transportation in partnership with Lifecom.
• Supports the management of psych intake referrals in partnership with the psychiatric admission representatives.
• Management of all in- and outbound calls supported by One Call Center agents.
• Facilitates, coordinates and completes multi-function tasks for patient flow processes, transfers and transports to ensure continuity of care for VCUHS and the communities served.
• Assists the admission physicians in identifying an appropriate level of care for the patient based on admission criteria, understanding age-specific requirements, and unit-based nursing competencies when assessing bed placement recommendations.
• Utilizes established criteria and clinical practice guidelines to monitor the delivery of healthcare services and facilitates concurrent intervention when variances in bed management are identified.
• Accepts additional position requirements such as shift rotations, weekends, and environment, as applicable.

Demonstrates knowledge and skills necessary to provide equitable care appropriate to the age of the patients served on their assigned unit. Demonstrates knowledge and related competencies of the principles of growth and development of the life span and possesses the ability to assess data reflective of the patient s status and interpret the appropriate information needed to identify each patient s requirements relative to their age and needs, to provide equitable care per departmental policies and procedures.

Age ranges include Neonates (0-4 weeks), Infant (1-12 months), Pediatrics (1-12 years), Adolescents (13-17 years), Adults (18-64 years), Geriatrics (65 years and older).

Education

• Required
  
  Education:
  
  Diploma or Associate Degree from a professional nursing program recognized and/or approved by the corresponding state's Board of Nursing.
• All Patient Flow Coordinators without a Bachelor's degree in Nursing (or higher) will be required to enroll in an approved RN to BSN program within two years of their start date and complete the program within five years of their start date.

Preferred Education

• Master s Degree in Nursing or related field

Licensure/Certification

• Current RN licensure in Virginia or eligible compact
• BLS certification

Minimum Qualifications

• Required Qualifications:
  
  Three (3) years clinical experience in an acute care setting

Other Knowledge,

Skills and Abilities

Required

• Employee must complete 15 contact hours of Continuing Nursing Education during this evaluation cycle. Failure to achieve the required number of contact hours will result in the employee being ineligible to receive an overall performance rating above "Fully Meets".

Cultural Responsiveness

• Demonstrates a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion through continuous development, modeling inclusive behaviors, and proactively managing bias.

Other Knowledge,

Skills and Abilities

Preferred

• Five (5) years of clinical experience in an acute care setting
• Two (2) years leadership experience including precepting, charge nurse experience, leading projects/initiatives
• Clinical triage experience
• ICU, Operating Room/PACU, or ED experience

• Periods of high stress and fluctuating workloads may occur
• General office environment
• May have periods of constant interruptions

Physical Requirements

• Physical…