Flow Manager Emergency Department

The Flow Manager's primary responsibility is to coordinate and expedite throughput activity on behalf of patients who seek care in the Emergency Department. The Flow Manager has final accountability and authority regarding patient flow while reacting to the department's immediate operational needs. The Flow Manager supervises and directs other members of the Emergency Department interdisciplinary team to assist in coordinating and advancing care throughout the patient experience. The Flow Manager collaborates with other departments such as housekeeping transport bed manager etc. to coordinate resources to facilitate and maximize throughput. The Flow Manager also has primary responsibility for evaluating services' capacity and is accountable for facilitating the appropriate response to volume demands.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Facilitates flow throughout the Emergency Department including but not limited to:

a. Resolving conflict related to operational issues (including RNs MDs and Assistant Clinical Manager. The flow manager has ultimate decision-making authority regarding flow.

b. Facilitates debriefings after conflicts arise to ensure that all stakeholders have an opportunity to review concerns.

c. Demonstrates respectful communication.

d. Manages all resources to support the throughput of patients.

e. Evaluates capacity and identifies capacity concerns early.

f. Collaborates with RNs & MDs to anticipate potential admission and discharges.

2. Collaborates with key departments to coordinate resources and communication.

These include but are not limited to Admitting Transport Housekeeping Bed Manager etc.

3. Coordinates with ACM regarding assignment closures/changes involvement in the first step of discipline and communicates with CM/ACM for escalation and bottlenecks related to patient flow.

4. Interfaces with Epicenter to provide throughput and bed utilization services to enhance the patient experience while optimizing patient flow.

5. Supervises and directs interdisciplinary Emergency Department team to ensure patients' timely disposition discharges and admitting bed requests via the Bed Manager.

6. Supervises and directs the ED team to ensure smooth and rapid admission to the Surge Pod while identifying and eliminating barriers.

7. Monitors to ensure the handoff process is completed promptly to facilitate throughput and care advancement.

8. Provides management support as needed to nursing staff in collaboration with the Assistant Clinical Manager and Nurse Manager of the Emergency Department including but not limited to facilitating discharges assisting with an IV placement.

9. Continuously assesses the Emergency Department's capacity to care safely and effectively for patients while making timely and thoughtful recommendations to respond to Surge based on patient acuity.

10. Leads the coordination of surge responses and ongoing evaluation of the response process.

11. Analyzes and provides feedback to the Clinical manager regarding trends in inpatient acuity and census and their impact on staffing patterns to assure the needed adjustments in resource allocations.

12. Assumes accountability for evaluating performance under the clinical manager and assistant clinical manager's delegation/direction.

13. Completes NEDOC score and surge calculator of current department status.

Licensure as Registered Nurse in the State of Rhode Island by the Rhode Island Board of Nursing or licensure as a Registered Nurse in accordance with the Nurse Licensure Compact agreement of the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

Graduate of an approved school of nursing BSN required. MSN preferred. CEN preferred. Current license to practice as a registered nurse in the State of Rhode Island.

Experience:

5 years of emergency nursing experience are required. Must have extensive knowledge of patient flow and emergency department operations. Must have Triage experience. Leadership experience preferred.

Continually updates clinical knowledge and skills through formal and informal education and review of the current literature. Member of Emergency Nursing Association preferred.

Must work well independently have sound decision-making skills and work effectively when required to make complex decisions. Excellent communication skills critical thinking skills and a strong team player.

Skills and Abilities

Must exercise a high degree of professional judgment within the scope of licensure.

Possess interpersonal skills to interact effectively and respectively with intra-inter hospital physicians nurses and members of other departments.

Possess the ability to manage critical issues relating to patient care and changing organizational climate.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Works in various patient care environments where there may be exposed to communicable diseases and hazardous materials.