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

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

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 including hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, and physician offices via a single call to initiate acceptance and expedite decision-making
• 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
• Processes patient acuity and facilitates 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 with 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
• Provides follow-up with facilities as needed
• Adheres to customer service compliance
• Provides clinical resource information as needed to other team members to facilitate optimal patient outcomes
• Evaluates medical necessity and 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, considering physicians' preferences and the transferring and receiving hospitals
• Adheres to established policy, procedure, and standards of care
• Escalates issues through the established chain of command in a timely manner
• Utilizes effective and professional communication, acting 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

Requirements

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

Skills

• Proficient at typing
• Excellent communication and phone etiquette skills

Benefits

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