This position is responsible for the coordination of all components of the Bariatric Surgical Program and will serve as a nurse in other surgeons’ clinics as deemed necessary by departmental leadership.

The coordinator assists in the center development, managing the accreditation process and ensuring continuous compliance with accreditation requirements, maintaining relevant policies and procedures, patient education, outcomes data collection, quality improvement efforts, and education of relevant staff in the various aspects of the bariatric surgery patient with a focus on patient safety. The coordinator supports the development of written protocols and education of nurses detailing the rapid communication and basic response to critical vital signs that is specifically required to minimize delays in the diagnosis and treatment of serious adverse events. The coordinator serves as a liaison between the facility and all surgeons performing bariatric surgery at the center and all general surgeons providing call coverage.

• Essential Job Functions

• Manages program accreditation criteria to ensure Cass Health meets expectations set forth by governing agencies. Maintains and ensures compliance of all policies and procedures that guide and support the assigned services.
• Collaborate with key hospital administrative leadership and surgeons to provide program vision and strategic direction.
• Identify new revenue opportunities consistent with market needs and bariatric service line priorities.
• Collaborate with patients, providers, key department leaders and other members of the healthcare team to provide comprehensive care and a positive patient experience.
• Collaborate with surgical office and other hospital departments to ensure process efficiency, quality of care, and patient satisfaction.
• Interact routinely with bariatric patients offering services and support daily. Including but not limited to navigation throughout the bariatric continuum of care, scheduling surgery for patients, providing pre- and post-operative support.
• Leads and organizes regular meetings to maintain the Bariatric Program excellence which incorporates all services related to the program.
• Actively leads and participates in the program's performance improvement activities.
• Meet regularly with members of the bariatric team and Medical Staff to foster communication and trust between leadership and providers to enable and enhance opportunities to work together for business development purposes.
• Provide classes on this specialty to both current and new staff. Active in ongoing staff development, good communication, and positive personal interaction skills.
• Attends and leads in-services, committee meetings, seminars, etc. as appropriate.
• Demonstrates an awareness of self-responsibility and accountability for own professional practice and development.
• Serves as a resource to staff for regulatory standards.
• Demonstrates awareness of legal issues in all aspects of patient care and unit function and strives to manage situations in a reduced risk manner.
• Enhance growth and profitability of program through initiatives aimed at increasing patient volume, ongoing process enhancement and improvements, reasonable cost containment, and appropriate insurance and coding practices.
• Attend networking events/promote networking with outside providers/clinics to continue to enhance our referral base.
• Provides direct patient care through the use of the nursing process and within nursing scope of practice. Uses clinical judgment to differentiate expected from unexpected responses in the patient’s condition and demonstrates the ability to adjust or implement additional interventions as needed.
• Safely administers medication, chemotherapy, treatments and procedures as ordered by the physician and consistent with the individualized plan of care.
• Maintains responsibility for managing patients within the infusion/treatment rooms, assuring patients’ needs are met, including delegation of care based upon patient conditions and departmental needs.
• Thoroughly and accurately documents patient care interventions/interactions in a timely manner within the electronic medical record.

• Education and Experience Requirements

• EDUCATION:

  • Required Licensed Practical Nurse

  • Preferred: Registered Nurse

• LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS:

  • Required:

    • Current Iowa nursing license

    • BLS 

    • Valid Drivers License

  • Preferred:

• TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE:

  • Required: 2 years of healthcare experience

  • Preferred: 5 years of healthcare experience with an extensive knowledge in Bariatric Surgery, ASMBS CEU's at Spring and Annual Meetings, ASMBS Associate Membership