RN Access Specialist - Access Point (Remote)

Access Point has an opening for a Access Specialist III to join the team!

Lifepoint Health is a leader in community-based care and driven by a mission of Making Communities Healthier. Our diversified healthcare delivery network spans 29 states and includes 63 community hospital campuses, 32 rehabilitation and behavioral health hospitals, and more than 170 additional sites of care across the healthcare continuum, such as acute rehabilitation units, outpatient centers and post-acute care facilities. We believe that success is achieved through talented people. We want to create places where employees want to work, with opportunities to pursue meaningful and satisfying careers that truly make a difference in communities across the country.

We are always looking for people inspired to help us in our mission. If you are someone who wants to change the lives of patients, drive success for our partners and be part of a team driven to improve care, see what opportunities we have for you.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Access Specialist RN coordinates the acceptance of patients in the LifePoint Health system. The Access Specialist RN performs initial admission screening and acceptance using approved clinical criteria to assure patient acceptance and admission are consistent with current protocols and procedures. The Access Specialist RN works in collaboration with multiple departments within the hospital and facilitates relationships with facilities, physicians, and nursing staff. The Access Specialist RN will work closely with the Bed/Capacity Coordinator to identify, trend and report barriers to patient throughput.

Essential Functions:

• Coordinates all components related to the admission/transfer or consult of emergent, urgent and elective patients into an accepting facility from referring hospitals, clinics, urgent care clinics and physician offices with guaranteed appropriate level of care and timely, appropriate mode of transport.
• Systematic processing of patient acuity and expert level of clinical decision making, to facilitate the patient flow through the continuum of care utilizing electronic resources
• Ability to document and prioritize patient information to formulate an accurate picture of the patient and his/her condition for accepting physicians, nurses or other healthcare workers.
• Stays up to date with all departmental procedures, protocols and communications to ensure adherence of appropriate process for final referral resolution.
• Assign Transfer Priority Level for triage / transport of patients to prioritize bed and transportation resources.
• Maintain Access Center data collection and provide feedback to referring facility on patient transition and outcomes.
• Demonstrates Knowledge of human growth and development, assessment, range of treatment and care of patients of all ages of patients served.
• Screens admissions, using approved criteria, for appropriateness of level of care orders and bed assignments. Educates nurses, physicians and ancillary staffs in level of care and admission/transfer issues/ opportunities.
• Through effective and professional communication, acts as a liaison between and with physicians, patient / family, hospital staff and patient care areas, outside agencies in an effort to promote efficient patient flow.
• Demonstrates knowledge of regulatory requirements, EMTALA, LifePoint Health Ethics and Compliance policies and quality initiatives. Monitors self-compliance and implements process changes to ensure compliance to such regulations and quality initiatives as they relate to the provision of Access Center functions and Bed Management Services.
• Tracks and trends barriers to patient flow, makes recommendations and develops action plans to improve processes and systems. Flags call for Access Center leadership to review and escalate issues to outside Administrative Leadership.
• Adheres to established protocol, procedure and standard of care, escalates issues through the established Chain of Command in a timely manner.
• Maintains current and accurate information in Electronic Health Care Record.
• Facilitates collaborative Capacity Management at facilities served.
• Facilitates patient throughput with an ongoing focus on quality, efficiency and exceptional customer service.
• Coordinate with Bed / Capacity Coordinator for timely transfer, appropriate bed assignment and to ensure the patient’s information is accurate and viable.
• Competent in the application of Medical Necessity criteria
• Screens admissions, using approved criteria, for appropriateness of level of care orders and assignment of status and bed type.
• Participates in daily bed management functions and effectively communicates resources and issues to appropriate areas of the facility.
• Engages in departmental “team” approach to ensure all elements are communicated (both written and verbal) to facilitate patient throughput.
• Builds relationships with nursing units, nursing managers and supervisors.
• Works cooperatively with all patient care areas in conjunction with Nursing Leadership to ensure the appropriate placement of patient’s based on priority and acuity and care/needed treatment anticipated.
• Must be able to multitask by attentively listen and simultaneously type 38-40 wpm.
• Must meet Internet speed requirements: Upload 50 or more; Download 100 or more.
• Provides superior customer service with all interactions.
• Must have clear understanding about the Access Center performance and be a part of the Access Vision to reach the goals.
• Access Specialist RN to comply with State regulations on verbal/written orders. Access Specialist RN will consistently work in rapid change environment.
• Access Specialist RN will be overseeing LPN/ Paramedic/ EMT as needed

Job Relationships:
• Relationship to: Access Team Leads, Access Manager and / or Director
• Nature of Supervision Received: Minimal; individual proceeds on his / her own, incompliance with policies, procedures and practicing as prescribed by immediate supervisor
• Positions Supervised: None
• Interactions with: External and Internal Customers

Benefits:

Competitive pay and benefits including 401k, paid time off, employee illness benefit (EIB), medical, dental, vision.

Additional Information: 

Lifepoint Health is committed to providing Equal Employment Opportunities for all applicants and employees and complies with all applicable laws prohibiting discrimination against any employee or applicant for employment because of color, race, sex, age, religion, national origin, disability, genetic information, gender identity, sexual orientation, veterans' status or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state or local law.

Required License/Registration/Certification:
• Current licensure in State of Residence (RN); Compact/ Multistate License needed

Required Experience:
• Three years of related clinical experience in an acute care setting (ED or Critical Care Preferred)
• Demonstrated skills in problem solving, analytical and critical thinking, prioritization, negotiation, conflict resolution, proactive decision making.
• Ability to establish and maintain collaborative and effective working relationships.
• Ability to communicate effectively in oral, written and electronic formats.