The Patient Placement Coordinator is responsible for channeling patients to the most appropriate healthcare venue. Working in collaboration with the ED physicians, residents, admitting hospitalist, social worker, CDU, and nursing staff, provides counsel and advice regarding access management activities to assure the most appropriate level of care to meet the patient's immediate needs and to promote quality, cost effective outcomes. This position emphasizes patient and customer satisfaction and balances individually identified patient and family needs with the efficacious use of resources.

• Clinical preparation as a Registered Nurse
• Graduate of an approved school of nursing, BSN preferred. As of 1/1/18, must complete BSN within 4 years of hire or transfer.
• Minimum of 3-5 years of acute care experience, preferably in critical care services
• Bi-lingual is an asset
• Excellent interpersonal communication and negotiation skills
• Able to easily adjust to the rigorous demands of the Emergency Department

• Current Illinois RN license.

Responsibilities:

• Alert the inpatient case managers to high risk/challenging patients being admitted through the ED.
• A ssess/screen all potential admissions for medical necessity and level of care needs and makes recommendation to assign accurate status of inpatient, observation status, SNF, ALC, or custodial.
• C oordinates ED discharge planning, screens patients for social work, home care and continuing needs.
• M akes referrals or delegates discharge needs to members of health care team as appropriate.
• D ocument in the patient's record when appropriate: An initial note regarding the patient's residence status prior to admit, prior functional ability, medical necessity, anticipated discharge plan, patient/family education, targeted discharge date/time and any other helpful information.
• M aintains records documenting productivity and outcomes of interventions.
• M ay provide pre-admission/initial/concurrent review to regulatory agencies and contracted insurers.
• C ommunicates with payers regarding assessments, utilization of resources, outcomes, and anticipated length of stay.
• O ther duties as assigned.
• P rovide information on a consistent basis to the Emergency Department staff/physicians and hospitalist admitting physicians on InterQual and/or Milliman criteria for admission, Medicare and Medicaid rules and regulations, severity of illness and intensity of service indicators, and federal, state or accrediting agency initiatives regarding safety and quality measures.
• P rovides verbal/written notification of admission denial to patient, family, and physician.
• P rovides education in understanding the process, options and outcomes.
• R ecommends observation level patients to the Clinical Decision Unit (CDU) and explains purpose of the unit to patients and families.
• R efer chronic users of the Emergency Department to appropriate community resource.
• R efers patients to the ED social worker when patient does not qualify for acute level of care but needs a safe discharge from the ED.
• U sing preliminary diagnosis, makes recommendations for documentation to support physicians determination of Severity of illness and treatment plan.
• W hen feasible, assist the EDSW with transfers to Acute or Skilled Nursing Facilities for skilled or custodial care, refer patients/families to community based resources such as home-delivered meals, transportation, assisted living services, agencies for hiring assistance, and low-income housing.
• A ssists patients with all levels of discharge transportation including ambulance, wheelchair car, taxi or bus.
• D etermine if payer criteria is met or private pay is required.
• P rovide homeless patients with information on shelters, emergency food lockers, emergency clothing resources and other services available for this population.

Riverside Healthcare is revolutionizing care using leading-edge technology to diagnose and treat patients. We are ranked top in the nation for performance in neurosurgery, orthopedics, and heart surgery and have also been named one of the nation's 100 Top Hospitals by Truven Health Analytics seven times. Riverside is nationally recognized for our specialty programs in obstetrics, trauma, oncology, rehabilitation, geriatrics, occupational health, psychiatric services, and treatment of alcohol and chemical dependency, as well as patient safety. We combine innovation and convenience at state-of-the-art facilities located in communities throughout the greater Kankakee area.

Riverside Medical Center proves that truly progressive medicine is being delivered in Chicago's southwest suburbs and East Central Illinois. Join a team that is not only concerned with providing the best care possible but also with offering a work environment of advancement and growth. Riverside is a place that embraces a culture where opinions count and dedications is respected, where superior performance is rewarded with competitive salaries and excellent benefits.

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