Patient Flow RN - 0.9 FTE, 12-hr, Day Shift

About the role

The Patient Flow RN is a new role with Stanford Health Care, designed to work within the Emergency Department supporting the transfer program.

Responsibilities

• Screen patients for anticipated internal or external transfers to the healthcare system and discharge planning needs.
• Collaborate with the transfer center to arrange patient transfers between locations, such as from the Emergency Department to outside hospitals.
• Expedite the transfer and discharge process to decrease length of stay.
• Facilitate patient throughput with a focus on admissions and discharges.
• Attend relevant daily rounds and huddles, representing patient throughput.
• Facilitate patient throughput with a focus on admissions and discharges.
• Triage barriers to discharge to optimize hospital capacity.
• Collaborate with care coordination teams to facilitate timely implementation of discharge plans for patients with complex needs.
• Manage each patient's transition through the system and ensure care team accountability for transfers and/or discharge.
• Liaise with Operations leadership and team members regarding clinical priorities and synchronization based on system needs.
• Liaise with hospital management to activate escalation policies to reduce emergency department overcrowding.
• Maintain communication with other hospitals to manage escalations efficiently.
• Perform effective handoff communication to support continuity of care.
• Collaborate with leadership to identify quality and process improvement strategies and enhance process efficiency.
• Conduct chart audits to ensure care plans are updated, particularly regarding admission and discharge information.
• Manage deviations from patient care pathways and resolve bottlenecks in service delivery.
• Participate in performance improvement activities at the department and organizational levels.
• Utilize performance improvement methodologies to identify opportunities for care/service enhancement.
• Identify and address educational needs of patients and families.
• Serve as a resource and consultant to nurses, physicians, and families regarding patient flow practices.
• Support the orientation of new staff members and serve as a mentor on throughput practices to staff.
• Demonstrate leadership by promoting engagement, team building, and participating in formal and informal development and evaluation of competencies.
• Maximize productivity through effective time management and prioritization.
• Pursue lifelong learning to enhance clinical and professional knowledge.
• Participate in department program planning, goal setting, and process improvement initiatives.
• Perform other duties as assigned, including on-call responsibilities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's of Science in Nursing Degree from an accredited college or university required.
• Master’s Degree preferred.
• Five (5) years of acute care nursing experience required.
• Two (2) years of emergency nursing, transfer center nursing, case management or care coordination experience, or directly related work experience preferred.