Patient Flow Coordinator- Emergency Department

Facility: Kennestone Hospital

Job Summary:

Full-time- Nights (7pm-7am)

A registered professional nurse who functions under the direction of the E.D. Clinical Nurse Manager or the Assistant Nurse Manager and is responsible for shift operations which includes: lead staffing, patient flow activities and services, patient care for a department within the nursing division of WellStar. Has responsibility for implementing standards of practice, interpreting system and department policies and procedures, and ensuring quality patient care and compliance with regulatory and legal requirements. Is responsible for the efficiency and safety of patient flow through the Emergency Department (adult, pediatric, fast track, triage, behavioral health). Responsible for monitoring and maintaining sound financial performance, staff efficiency and productivity, materials and supplies management, patient/customer satisfaction and appropriate reporting. Responsible for coordinating department functions with the operations of other hospital departments to maximize patient flow and inter-departmental efficiency. Managing physician efficiency and flow and physician relationships. Contributes to team retention and promote and environment of trust as well as a leadership sponsor of E.D. patient throughput metrics.
Based on expanded educational knowledge, clinical expertise and experience, is responsible for the safe delivery of care that adjusts to needs of the patient while considering population, age and cultural diversity. These competent nursing care practices address the biological, developmental, psychosocial, cultural and clinical needs of the patient, family member and support system. Contributes to the vision of Emergency Services, the strategic planning process, and department goals by leading and prioritizing operations to fulfill the mission, vision and strategic goals. Is responsible for employee development as it relates to critical thinking skills interfaced with patient flow principles and patient safety with an emphasis on evidence-based practice supported by the Shared Decision Making Model.

Core Responsibilities and Essential Functions:

* Constantly rounding throughout the Emergency Department triage area, waiting rooms, and patient rooms to oversee patient flow. Serves as the liaison between Bed Management, E.D. providers, attending providers, nursing, ancillary staff, case management, environmental services, EMS, and other departments to assure timely placement to ensure efficient throughput of emergency department patients.
* Assists in organizing the work environment and patient care teams to attain maximum achievement of designated unit outcomes. Coordinates patient flow both into and out of the department
* Supervise and coordinate patient placement and patient flow through the E.D., providing clear leadership through effective prioritization, decision-making processes and communication with other healthcare disciplines
* Focused on patient throughput and patient experience. Maintains constant oversight of E.D. tracking board for all patients within the department.
* Provide regular feedback on patient throughput performance to the entire E.D. team through focused patient flow huddles, one-on-one communication, event de-briefings, and reports to various groups as requested.
* Evaluate the quality and appropriateness of healthcare delivery processes in the E.D. as it relates to patient arrival, patient care processes and Efficient patient placement
* Participates in performance improvement projects and committees
* Provide guidance and leadership recommendations or direction, as indicated by the situation, supported by evidence-based facts and data-driven decisions to achieve defined results related to patient flow.
* Assist in integrating staff engagement and performance behaviors for diverse patient population
* Assure that all decisions and actions related to patient flow follow regulatory standards, organizational and department policies and procedures
* Propose changes to policy and procedure, as indicated, to support needed practices
* Interact as a liaison with patient and family/caregivers
* Assist with departmental emergency preparedness including mitigation, preparation, response and recovery
Ensure that care is delivered with respect to individual patient rights, preferences and expectations
* Participate in nursing and organizational policy, procedure and process formulation and decision-making (involving staff perspectives and knowledge) as related to impact on patient flow goals
* Provide specific and objective staff performance feedback to E.D. leadership as it relates to practices that affect patient flow, patient safety, patient care ethics, quality or professional standards.
* Other Duties as Assigned
Performs other duties as assigned
Complies with all Wellstar Health System policies, standards of work, and code of conduct.

Required Minimum Education:

• Associates Nursing or Bachelors Nursing-Preferred

Required Minimum License(s) and Certification(s):

All certifications are required upon hire unless otherwise stated.

• Reg Nurse (Single State) or RN - Multi-state Compact
• Basic Life Support or BLS - Instructor
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support or ACLS - Instructor
• Pediatric Adv Life Support or PALS - Instructor

Additional License(s) and Certification(s):

Required Minimum Experience:

Minimum 3 years of nursing practice in an Emergency Department or other applicable healthcare experience may be considered at the Directors discretion Required

Required Minimum Skills:

Strong interpersonal, critical thinking and decision-making skills.
Works well with others including providers from a collaborative, team-focused, patient centered perspective.
Communicates effectively both orally and in written form with all levels of internal and external resources.
Analytical skills necessary to solve technical, clinical and managerial challenges.
Sufficient clinical and leadership experience to ensure competence and credibility to lead others.