Registered Nurse / Transfer Center Coordinator - Transfer Center, USA Health Shared Services

Overview

USA Health is Transforming Medicine along the Gulf Coast to care for the unique needs of our community. USA Health is changing how medical care, education, and research impact the health of people who live in Mobile and the surrounding area. Our team of doctors, advanced care providers, nurses, therapists, and researchers provides the region's most advanced medicine at multiple facilities, campuses, clinics, and classrooms. We offer patients convenient access to innovative treatments and advancements that improve the health and overall well-being of our community.

Responsibilities

• Serves as a resource and liaison to the Transfer Center Specialists that coordinate transfers and acceptance of patients for USA Health hospitals
• Collects clinical information for a transfer request and facilitates the transfer by matching the patient's needs to the facility with bed capacity and service capability
• Works in collaboration with multiple departments to foster relationships with referring facilities, physicians, and hospital staff
• Works closely with the Transfer Center team and leadership to identify trends and report barriers to patient throughput
• Performs transfer call center functions in a responsive manner answering calls, entering into a database consisting of facility service profiles, approved clinical protocols, established patient care protocols, and healthcare information
• Coordinates transfer of emergent, urgent and elective patients to a final destination facility from all potential referral sources to include but not limited to hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, and physician offices via a single call to initiate acceptance and expedite decision making relative to a potential transfer
• Facilitates patient throughput to a final destination with an ongoing focus on quality and efficiency
• Works directly with Transfer Center Specialists to ensure timely transfer, appropriate bed assignment, and provides accurate patient information to assist with the development of an initial plan of care
• Ensures accurate and concurrent data collection and maintenance
• Process patient acuity and facilitate patient flow through the continuum of care
• Triages and prioritizes patient information and communicates an accurate clinical presentation of the patient for accepting physicians and nurses
• Completes all training and is competent in the electronic applications related to job functions
• Adheres to regulatory requirements such as EMTALA, Ethics and Compliance policies, and quality initiatives
• Monitors self-compliance and implements process changes to ensure compliance to such regulations and quality initiatives
• Communicates with physicians and outlying facilities regarding all patient transfers, potential bed placements, and assists with coordinating patient movement from one facility to another
• Provide follow up with facilities as needed
• Adheres to customer service compliance
• Provides clinical resource information as needed to other team members in order to facilitate optimal patient outcomes
• Evaluates medical necessity/available services for acute level of care for incoming transfers
• Communicates with Case Management and Patient Access regarding incoming transfers
• Uses problem-solving skills to determine the course of action to generate the best patient clinical outcome, the physicians' preferences, and the transferring and receiving hospitals
• Adheres to established policy and procedure and standards of care
• Escalates issues through the established chain of command in a timely manner
• Utilizes effective and professional communication, acts as a liaison between physicians, patient/family, hospital staff, patient care areas, and outside agencies
• Communicates and uses appropriate customer relation skills
• Completes all mandatory department, educational and hospital requirements
• Adheres to current Infection Control and Safety Standards
• Regular and prompt attendance
• Ability to work schedule as defined and overtime as required
• Related duties as assigned

Additional Information

Employees must be in a regular position, working 20 hours or more per week (.50 FTE or greater) to qualify for benefits.

Qualifications

• Graduation from an accredited school of nursing, meeting the minimum standards set by the state of Alabama and 1 year professional nursing experience Required
• RN - Registered Nurse - State Licensure and/or Compact State Licensure in accordance with the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) for Alabama Required
• Comparable combination of education and experience may substitute for the above requirements.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Must be proficient at typing and have excellent communication and phone etiquette skills. Must be proficient at typing and have excellent communication and phone etiquette skills.

Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer

The University of South Alabama is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, genetic information, disability, protected veteran status or any other applicable legally protected basis. EO Employer – minorities/females/veterans/disabilities/sexual orientation/gender identity.