Bed Control - Bed Board - Per Diem /Nights - Req#2047142343

Job Objective:

Antelope Valley Hospital (AVH) Bed Control is responsible to expedite patient admissions from all avenues (ER, Direct Admits, PACU, Cath Lab, etc.) as well as inpatient transfers, in a timely manner, focusing on Patient Throughput targets. The ability to screen for level of care appropriateness and any special requirements around bed requests (i.e. isolation, custody, dialysis, etc.) will be a pivotal responsibility for this position. Serves as point person for patient placement with a goal to centralize patient flow with one individual who has clinical expertise and experience to understand the global picture of the hospital’s capacity at all times and who works closely with the House Supervisor.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

A. Population-Specific Competencies

• Demonstrates knowledge, skill and ability to provide care / service based on the specific patient population. Demonstrates modifies and adapts work behavior in meeting patient-specific needs and / or providing the services required.
• Demonstrates the ability to focus on the specific needs of the patient population and provide the care or service needed.
• Demonstrates appropriate communication skills for the patient population served.

B. Job-Specific Duties

• Works with House Supervisor / Charge Nurses / Manager / Director to facilitate the timely throughput of all patients being admitted or transferred by identifying the appropriate bed placement of all patients (admissions and transfers) according to medical necessity to the appropriate level of care nursing units by demonstrating an understanding of utilization management principles. Keeps track of updates / downgrades on all nursing units.
• Collaborates with the House Supervisor / Charge Nurse / Manager / Director regarding level of care, special needs and the ability to care for the patient within the unit’s scope of service and bed availability.
• Maintains communication / reviews schedules for scheduled surgeries, Interventional Radiology, Cardiac Cath Lab and SDS patients for their potential admission and to ensure placement of patients, post-op / post-procedure to appropriate levels of care.
• Assigns beds the day before for surgical and Cath Lab patients, when possible. Works with Nursing Office Secretary and House Supervisor to ensure the beds needed are staffed accordingly.
• Maintains communication and assists the House Supervisor to screen admissions from other facilities and obtain approval from the House Supervisor before accepting the patient into AVH.
• Acts as liaison with other departments and checks on delays in all sub-processes, maintaining communication with nursing and other hospital disciplines to ensure proper placement of patients.
• Coordinates and ensures that appropriate physician orders are obtained for all admissions and transfers.
• Appropriately refers problems and / or questions to House Supervisor and raises significant issues affecting bed flow to the House Supervisor and / or Director of Nursing Administration.
• Keeps track of Hospital census / bed availability to include turnover and patient flow.
• Communicate with Charge Nurses and House Supervisors for proper placement of patients in beds according to medical necessity, maintaining an awareness of dialysis, isolation and in-custody patients.
• Elevates the process for any patient holding in Emergency Department (ED) greater than three (3) hours to the House Supervisor and Director of Nursing Administration. Assigns patient to a unit, based on diagnosis / level of care and documents the reason for delays.
• Prioritizes admissions and is able to interpret hospital bed availability. After conferring with House Supervisor, sets patient placement priorities for admits, obtaining patient arrival times for direct admits, and communicating status on an ongoing basis as unit situations changes.
• Transfers patients as directed by the Charge Nurse or House Supervisor with related physician orders.
• Notifies ED, PACU or Nursing Unit on bed status, when clean, ready and available.
• Coordinates Critical Care units’ priority of placement according to specialty service needs.
• Monitors patient faxed physician orders information to verify accuracy of data and provides audits of admission times related to throughput goals.
• Monitor patient movement throughout the hospital and individual units.
• Maintains knowledge of all discharges occurring throughout the hospital to accurately obtain census data and assist with getting the beds cleaned quickly for new admissions by contacting the EVS Lead on STAT cleans.
• Reviews current physician suspension list and checks before admitting patients to any physician. Escalates to House Supervisor as needed.
• Maintains constant communication of bed placement status with the House Supervisor and / or the Director of Nursing Administration.
• Exhibits a high degree of flexibility and the ability to adapt to new or unusual situations.
• Will perform other duties as assigned by the House Supervisor and or the Director of Nursing Administration.
• Able to pre-register and or register admissions and verifies correct demographic information is completed.
• Inputs required documentation for HAvBED polling (ReddiNet) on time to meet County-side completion expectations. Collectively maintains >90% timeliness for report submission tracked by L.A. County.
• Obtains written information from the Charge Nurses at 09:30 and 21:30 regarding bed flow for the main Hospital and the Women and Infants Pavilion (WIP) and sends out report to the designated groups.
• Receives trauma, code myocardial infarction (MI) and stroke calls to plan accordingly for bed assignment by the time they are ready for admission.

Additional Duties and Responsibilities:

A. Quality Improvement

• Contributes ideas, suggestions and solutions to continuously improves processes, procedures, methods and productivity to constantly meet throughput metrics.

B. Risk Management

• Cooperates fully in all Risk Management activities and investigations.
• Places patients according to diagnosis and other information for a safe environment.

C. Information Management

• Maintains confidentiality, security and integrity of all health information. Follows HIPAA guidelines for patient privacy.
• Places patients accurately by diagnosis and other information for a safe environment.

D. Patient Safety

• Demonstrates knowledge of, observes and complies with the hospital’s Patient Safety Program and Plan.
• Accepts guidance from the House Supervisor, Charge Nurse and Manager/Director if placement concerns surface for a positive resolution.

E. Environment of Care

• Demonstrates knowledge of, observes and complies with hospital Safety, Infection Prevention and refers to related policies and procedures.
• Communicates with Environmental Services (EVS) when there is an urgent need to clean beds.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Knowledge

• Knowledge of medical terminology.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office applications.
• Knowledge of basic arithmetic.
• Knowledge of electronic medical record (EMR).

Skills

• Use of basic personal computer workstation with dual screens, scanner, phone, fax, copier and printer.
• Use of a calculator.
• Proficient in the operation of scanners, copiers, and fax machines.
• Skilled in usages of computers and programs in a hospital setting.
• Skilled usage of MS Office
• Strong communication and organizational skills.
• Good planning, time management and decision-making skills.
• Good analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and strong customer focus.
• Effective oral and written communication skills with customer service and team approach to daily work activities, Organizational and time management skills required.

Abilities

• Ability to handle stress.
• Ability to manage a heavy caseload in an organized and efficient manner.
• Ability to maintain a working relationship with other departments within the organization.
• Ability to read handwritten and transcribed documents in the EMR and interpret information.
• Ability to enter complete and accurate data into the facilities computer systems.
• Ability to maintain an accuracy rate of 98% or higher relating to all bed control activities.

AVH Values: All AVH employees will effectively demonstrate these values:

• Patients Come First – We listen actively and communicate with our patients and families, placing safety as a top priority.
• Accountability & Ownership – We fully complete tasks, are transparent, effectively communicate, and recognize that what we do reflects on us.
• Teamwork – We build trusting relationships, promote a sense of community, and are respectful of everyone. Success is about the whole team.
• Integrity & Honesty – We tell the truth at all times, speak up when something is wrong, and do the right thing when no one is looking.
• Excellence – We take pride in our work, are goal-oriented, and on a never-ending quest for top tier quality.
• Initiative & Innovation – Our can-do attitudes, creativity, and resourcefulness empower us to improve the patient’s experience, solve our own problems, make timely decisions, and look for opportunities to add value.
• Tenderness & Compassion – We have genuine empathy, show kindness, and encourage and advocate for each other.

Education and Experience:

1. Education

• High School graduate or equivalent

2. Experience

• 1-year recent experience in an ED Registration / Admitting Department in an acute care setting. Will consider 1-year recent (within last 5 years) experience in a medical office or hospital Business Office setting,
• Understanding in interqual admission criteria and has computer skills to enter information into the various required databases.

Required Licensure and/or Certifications:

• None

AVH Conduct/Compliance Expectations:

• Ability to adhere with AVH Absenteeism and Tardiness Policy
• Ability to adhere with AVH Leaves of Absence Policy
• Ability to adhere with AVH Paid Time Off (PTO) Policy
• Ability to adhere with AVH Recording of Hours Worked Policy
• Ability to adhere to the department dress code
• Ability to organize work and establish priorities
• Ability to expand on own initiative in performance of duties
• Skill and ability to follow the telephone etiquette/standards
• Conforms to AVH Standards of Excellence
• Ability to function effectively under pressure and meet time parameters
• Ability to communicate effectively while maintaining good working relationships with co-workers, managers and other hospital staff
• Ability to adhere to the normal standards of courtesy and conduct as defined under the rules of hospitality at AVH
• Ability to maintain the confidentiality of patient, hospital and department information
• Ability to adhere to safety rules and regulations
• Safely and effectively uses all equipment necessary to carry out duties
• Ability to interpret and function under hospital and department policies and procedures
• Conforms with required and appropriate Joint Commission requirements
• Conforms with and supports hospital quality assurance and improvement guidelines
• Ability to participate effectively in department and hospital staff education
• Display a willingness to work as a team player
• Ability to give and support the highest level of patient/customer satisfaction at all times
• Supports and adheres to the values and mission statement established by the AVH Board of Directors
• Ability to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the Compliance & Integrity Program and its established policies.
• Ability to follow the Code of Conduct

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions:

• Primarily works in a climate-controlled area,
• Frequent Sitting for long periods of time,
• Tolerate repetitive arm and hand movements.

A detailed description of the physical requirements of this job is maintained in the Employee Health Department.

Education and Experience:

1. Education

• High School graduate or equivalent

2. Experience

• 1-year recent experience in an ED Registration / Admitting Department in an acute care setting. Will consider 1-year recent (within last 5 years) experience in a medical office or hospital Business Office setting,
• Understanding in interqual admission criteria and has computer skills to enter information into the various required databases.

Required Licensure and/or Certifications:

• None