Job Requirements

Responsible for system-wide/multi-hospital placement of patients into available beds 24 hours/7 days a week. Collaborate with Access Center Physicians and hospital-based shift coordinators/supervisors to ensure decisions are consistent with hospital/service line priorities and hospital resources. May assist hospital administration and/or the administrator-on-call in resolving patient or administrative concerns occurring within the system. Work is performed under limited supervision. Direct report to the Nurse Manager.

Principal Responsibilities and Tasks

The following statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by personnel so classified.
• Facilitate and communicate system-wide bed and services available to support patient throughput.
• Interpret and ensure compliance with applicable federal and state laws, rules, regulations, and UMMS policies and procedures.
• In collaboration with the Access Center Physicians, receive patient request from key access points and clinically triage patients to validate the admission/transfer request.
• Maintain awareness of nursing capabilities at various units across the system to ensure appropriate patient placement.
• Receive discharge information from system hospital-based coordinators and Access Center Physicians to plan and coordinate patient placement activities to enhance patient flow.
• Collaborate with Transfer Coordinators to admit patients from referring physicians/hospitals.
• Coordinate with Access Center Physicians to define, reduce and eliminate barriers that may impede patient flow within UMMS.
• Maintain knowledge of all applicable system hospital throughput parameters (e.g., patient census, ED alert status, volume capacity alerts, bed demands, etc.).
• Evaluate patient throughput throughout the system, and eliminate barriers and/or process issues inhibiting throughput.
• Facilitate resource smoothing for patient throughput in collaboration with the Access Center Physicians, Transfer Coordinators, and sending/receiving units.
• Facilitate communication with leaders across the system to assure the timely and accurate transmission of capacity information.
• Determine appropriate level of care based on the patient's clinical status and identify system hospital to meet the patient's care needs.
• Participate in meetings regarding decanting or repatriation and facilitate system-oriented patient movement.
• Escalate concerns regarding throughput to Physician Administrative Officer, Central Intensivist Physician, administrator on call, or other hospital leadership as needed.
• Serve as a resource for members of the University of Maryland Access Center.
• Serve as on-site administrator for employee issues in the absence of UMAC leadership; notify immediate supervisor of any urgent matters; provide written communication of events as requested by leadership.
• Serve a key leader in the UMAC pause process with primary focus on matching the patient to the appropriate level of care; compile and review relevant clinical information in EPIC, CRISP, and data obtained from the sending/receiving provider.
• Identify and facilitate alternatives for patient transfer such as telehealth and outpatient follow-up; ensure loop closure for optimal patient outcomes.
• Collaborate with UMMS hospitals for available beds, to identify appropriate patients for transfer, and oversee pending patient transfers.
• Accountable for reviewing and updating patient status for patients' pending transfer; update receiving provider regarding changes in patient condition.
• Initiate re-consult process, and update patient status to accurately reflect patient care needs.
• Continually evaluate the continued need for transfer, and exploration of other options (e.g., tele health, outpatient follow-up, etc.) as the patient's condition permits.
• Optimize patient capacity of UMMS by ensuring right patient to right services/bed as bed status
• Facilitate telehealth process with the sending provider, and ensure timely follow-up; provide patient updates for the faculty practice while awaiting telehealth appointment.
• Continually re-evaluate patient appropriateness for telehealth, and escalate for patients requiring transfer in lieu of telehealth.
• Liaise with faculty practice following telehealth appointment and facilitate transfer needs.
• Coordinate transfers to non-system hospitals to enhance system bed flow.
• Maintain competencies required for the position and remain current with all mandatory training.
• Maintain accountability for own educational needs and attend appropriate educational programs.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Work Experience

Education and Experience
• Bachelor's degree in Nursing required.
• Three (3) years of nursing experience in a medical/surgical and/or critical care unit required.
• Two (2) years of experience with patient throughput and bed coordination preferred.
• Current licensure as a Nurse in the State of Maryland or be eligible to obtain licensure required.
• BLS/ACLS certification required.