Patient Flow RN

About the Role

The RN Patient Flow Coordinator is responsible for appropriately placing patients based on diagnosis and physician preference, considering bed availability. This role oversees the incoming calls of the One Call Center, triages and transfers calls to facilitate patient admissions to Mercy Medical Center.

Responsibilities

• Monitors patient admissions to ensure appropriate patient placement.
• Focuses on efficient bed utilization when assigning beds, based on patient diagnosis, special needs, physician preference, and bed availability.
• Conducts admission reviews per the UM plan to ensure hospitalization is warranted based on established criteria.
• Utilizes current census information to project accurate and appropriate placement of incoming patients.
• Oversees and triages incoming calls from the One Call Center, transferring them appropriately to facilitate admissions.
• Communicates bed placement explanations to Patient Flow and Patient Access Department staff.
• Facilitates communication with Department Directors and managers regarding bed flow and other issues.
• Makes appropriate referrals to care coordination.
• Assists with pre-authorization of services as needed.
• Applies professional nursing skills to assess incoming patient needs and determine appropriate bed placement.
• Acts as a liaison between doctors, offices, facilities, and Mercy to facilitate the admission process.
• Assists medical staff with interpretation and compliance of external regulatory and payer requirements.
• Carries out hospital programs and principles of utilization review in compliance with regulatory agencies and payer criteria.
• Promotes proactive planning for care management, patient placement, and appropriate use of services.
• Works closely with the House Supervisor to manage patient volumes and resources.

Qualifications

• Current license as a registered nurse issued by the State of Iowa.
• BSN or degree in healthcare-related field preferred.
• Two years of clinical nursing experience required.
• Experience in Patient Access, Admissions, and Flow Operations preferred.
• Completion of Mandatory Reporter – Child and/or Dependent Adult Abuse training within three months of hire.
• BLS certification by the end of the orientation period (approximately six weeks), with acceptable credentialing from bodies like the American Heart Association.
• Basic understanding of computer applications.
• Knowledge of insurance eligibility requirements for various healthcare services.
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex clinical situations related to patient placement.
• Ability to work independently and exercise judgment to resolve patient placement issues.

Skills

• Expertise in nursing assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation.
• Strong communication and liaison skills between various healthcare stakeholders.
• Proficiency in utilization review and compliance with regulatory standards.
• Ability to facilitate cohesive teamwork for continuous quality management.