Coordinator - Associate Kidney Care Advocate

PURPOSE AND SCOPE:

Functions as part of the Home Therapies dialysis health care team as the Coordinator of Home Therapies for a defined geographic area. Ensures provision of quality home patient care in accordance with FMS policies, procedures, and training. Responsible for growing the assigned  Home  Therapies  program  in coordination  with the Business Unit management and support functions. Supports the FMCNA mission, vision,  values,  and  customer service philosophy.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provides safe and effective training and oversight of the delivery of home dialysis therapies to patients in compliance with standards outlined in the facility policy procedure manuals, as well as regulations set forth by the corporation, state, and federal agencies.
• Ensures staff are scheduled to provide availability 24 hours/day, 7 days a week for patient needs.
• Orients all new home therapies staff and provides ongoing education.
• Holds staff meetings regularly.
• Participates in Business Unit and FMS Corporate initiatives, projects, and audits as directed.
• Utilizes the Business Director of Home Therapies as a resource.
• Assists in the identification and evaluation of candidates for the FMS Home Therapies Program, including assessment of patients' home environment if needed.
• Responsible for the safe, effective and timely training of all home patients and their families/significant others  on the safe and effective operation and maintenance (as appropriate), of all home therapies equipment.
• Ensures all educational needs of patients and family are met regarding End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD)
• Coordinates and oversees the delivery of the FMS Kidney Options program.
• Oversees patient and family readiness and ability to perform dialysis treatments at home patient's  and assesses home environment for suitability in the ongoing delivery of home dialysis therapy.
• Provides ongoing education to patients and families regarding their renal disease, peritoneal or  vascular access and home dialysis therapy, and other related health conditions.
• Coordinates transplant education and assists in transplant work up process.
•  Responsible for ensuring all patients are educated regarding laboratory values and the  relationship  to adequate dialysis therapy, compliance with treatment schedule, medications, and fluid as appropriate.
• Responsible for the safe and effective delivery of home therapy support care to patients with ESRD.
• Responsible for ensuring patients' response to home dialysis treatment therapy is documented following company policies and procedures.
• Identifies and communicate patient related issues to the physician.
• Responsible for ensuring Initial and Annual Nursing Assessment,  and ongoing evaluation  and documentation of patient care needs according to FMC Policies and Procedures is completed.
• Responsible for ensuring appropriate intervention for changes in patient adequacy status and troubleshooting peritoneal and access flow issues are completed per physician orders.
• Responsible for the accurate entering of physician lab orders accurately into the Medical Information System.
• Follow company policies and government regulations related to the collection, packaging and delivery of lab specimens and reporting of results.
• Ensures all physician orders are transcribed and entered into the Medical Information system in a timely manner.
• Responsible for accurate data entered into systems to ensure appropriate and accurate billing of Home Therapies services.
• Maintains appropriate skill levels with all emergency operational procedures, and initiate CPR and emergency measures in the event of a cardiac and/or respiratory arrest when the patient is in the medical office.
• Administers medications as prescribed including algorithm (as appropriate), and  document  appropriate  medical justification if indicated. Responsible for the appropriate recording of  controlled  substances  as required by law.
• Ensures competency of self and staff in the operation of all home  dialysis  therapy-related  equipment, including the ability to trouble shoot equipment problems with the patient via telephone.
• Directs staff and patients in the preventative maintenance of home therapies equipment, including water systems and analyses as appropriate.
• Responsible for all new patient admission documentation.
• Ensures all relevant data including physician orders, lab results, vital signs and treatment parameters. and patient status and any treatment related data are documented appropriately, and entered into Medical Information System.
• Complete all monthly and annual reporting as required by company policies and government regulations.

• Performs other related duties as assigned.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING CONDITIONS:

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

• The position provides direct patient care that regularly involves heavy lifting and moving of patients,and assisting with ambulation. Equipment aids and/or coworkers may provide assistance.
• This position requires frequent, prolonged periods of standing and the employee must be able to bend over. The employee may occasionally be required to move, with assistance, machines and equipment of up to 200 lbs., and may lift chemical and water solutions of up to 30 lbs. up as high as 5 feet.
• The work environment is characteristic of a health care facility with air temperature control and moderate noise levels. May be exposed to infectious and contagious diseases/materials.

SUPERVISION:

• Typically supervises non-exempt staff

EDUCATION AND REQUIRED CREDENTIALS:

• Graduate of an accredited School of Nursing (R.N.). Current appropriate state licensure.

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS:

• Minimum of one year medical-surgical nursing experience preferred, ICU experience preferred Minimum of one year dialysis experience, peritoneal experience preferred
• Supervisory experience preferred
• Successfully complete a training course in the theory and practice of dialysis therapies Competent at operating all Home Therapies related equipment
• Maintains current knowledge in the operation of such equipment, including hemodialysis machines,  water  treatment systems, peritoneal dialysis machines and patient assist devices
• Successfully complete CPR Certification with maintenance as required lcd-9 coding Training
• Demonstrated leadership skills including, but not limited to communication, customer service, performance management and continuous quality improvement.