Swing Bed Coordinator ALG

Swing Bed Program Coordinator Job Description

Responsible for the coordination and daily operations of the Swing Bed Program. This includes not only the ongoing program development, but community and patient education program promotion along with adherence to regulations.

MISSION VALUES and SERVICE GOALS

MISSION We deliver outstanding care, inspire health, and connect with heart.

VALUES Trust. Respect. Integrity. Compassion.

SERVICE GOALS Personally connect. Keep everyone informed. Be on their team.

Responsibilities

Assumes Responsibility for the Coordination for the Development and Promotion of Swing Bed Program by:

• Meets with patients, families, and significant others to assess post-hospital needs and facilitates linkage to swing bed program.
• Reviews medical documentation to ensure criteria for admission is appropriate.
• Ensures patients have a well-planned process in place from admission to discharge or transfer of care for medically complex patients.
• Collaborates with the interdisciplinary team to assess clinical readiness for transfer and discharge.

Focus is on referral growth, census development, and promoting efficient and effective transitions of care to the skilled nursing facility.

Maintains constant communication with discharge planners, social workers to help in facilitating patients desire to transfer within the Swing Bed Program. Attends daily rounding.

Assures that quality patient care is provided by:

• Recognizing potential and actual patient concerns in a timely manner, investigating to define problems, intervening when immediate attention is needed, and reporting results to the appropriate person.
• Talking and listening to patients, families, and members of the health team.
• Contributing to the Performance Improvement Plan for the program.
• Reviewing, interpreting, and administering Swing Bed policies to staff, patients, physicians, and others.

Evaluates appropriateness of care coordination services for referred patients and coordinates transition between in-patient or out-patient settings, including the patients home.

Requirements

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing required.
• Current license to practice as a Registered Nurse in Michigan and a minimum of three years job-related experience.
• Work or healthcare-related field is preferred. Previous referral transitional care coordination or community health services experience is preferred.

Knowledge & Skills

• Possesses outstanding interpersonal skills with focus on listening, assertion, persuasiveness, and collaboration.
• Must be able to show empathy, be sensitive, and tactful.
• Must have a positive attitude and approach.
• Must be intuitive, open-minded, persistent, and have absence of significant prejudice or transference issues.
• Reviews continued stay criteria for transfer of discharge.
• Possesses strong knowledge of medical and clinical processes.
• Develops clinical expertise appropriate for designated patient population.
• Works with patients, families, and other members of the healthcare team to assist in navigating the transfer of care.
• Understands the function of complex healthcare organizations providing broad scope of services.
• Ability to communicate positively and effectively with all levels of participants in health care delivery in both formal and informal settings and with individuals as well as groups of varying size and through documentation.
• Capable of managing complex workload and establishing priorities.
• Maintains up-to-date knowledge of reimbursement processes and community resources.
• Complies with hospital expectations regarding ethical behavior and standards of conduct.
• Complies with federal and hospital regulations regarding protected health information and patient privacy.
• Requires knowledge of nursing care practices, equipment procedures, and techniques utilized within the department.
• Requires working knowledge of department policies, procedures, and practices.
• Demonstrates solid management skills needed to provide effective direction and manage the effective utilization of resources.
• Requires the ability to promote teamwork.
• Requires the interpersonal and communication skills necessary to build and maintain effective working relationships and interact in a highly effective manner with all levels of staff.
• Requires the ability to disseminate information in a clear and concise manner.
• Demonstrates excellent planning and organization skills necessary for project planning and to coordinate the activities of diverse groups of individuals.
• Requires a strong customer service orientation.

Working Conditions

• Complexity of workload and communications may involve mental stress.
• Works in a patient care environment requiring physical exertion, frequent changes in job demands, and certain undesirable patient care activities.
• Requires schedule flexibility due to the departments 24 hours per day, 7 days per week operation.
• At risk for occupational exposure to blood-borne pathogens.
• Travel required via vehicle is required to visit patients in-hospital and skilled nursing facilities.
• Possible exposure to biohazards.
• Physical demands require the physical ability and stamina to walk, stand for prolonged periods, push carts, wheelchairs, up to 50 pounds, to position lift patients at a maximum of 35 pounds unassisted, and provide CPR, etc. to perform the essential functions of the position.