Acute Rehab Coordinator - $2,500 Sign-on Bonus

Description

Job Summary:

The Acute Rehab coordinator assumes responsibility for the assessments, treatments, and discharge planning of the Acute care and swing bed patients requiring Rehab services, including communication of accepted patient’s requirements to multidisciplinary team. This position provides leadership in the development, growth, and operational performance of the Acute Care/Swing Bed program with a focus on quality outcomes, regulatory compliance, patient satisfaction, and financial performance. They will support inpatient hospital throughput by facilitating timely admissions, progression of care, and safe discharges.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Assist in developing and updating unit-specific policies, procedures, and clinical protocols.
• Ensure compliance with hospital policies, state and federal regulations, and accreditation standards.
• Assist in monitoring quality metrics and help lead improvement initiatives.
• Oversee equipment maintenance and supply needs for the department.
• Organize and oversee rehab services provided in the hospital.
• Assist with staff education, orientation, and competency validation for rehab services.
• Provide input into staffing plans, productivity expectations, and performance evaluations.
• Monitor and support therapy productivity and efficiency benchmarks.
• Participate in budget planning and monitoring of departmental expenses.
• Support survey readiness for DNV inspections.

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Within the Physical Therapy scope of practice, provide medical care, assessment, and treatment; educate patients about their conditions; and, provide emotional support to patients and families.
• Evaluate referred patient’s appropriateness for acceptance into the Swing Bed Program and help make acceptance decisions. Compare inpatient medical records to established criteria and confers with medical and nursing personnel and other professional staff to determine legitimacy of treatment and length of stay. Participate in denials and appeals as necessary.
• Act as a central point of contact, lead care conferences, and facilitate communication between patients, families, physicians, nurses, and therapy departments.
• Ensure program compliance with CMS Swing Bed Conditions of Participation.
• Be the main point of contact for all therapy services in the hospital and help to supervise PTA treatments as necessary.
• Participate in daily interdisciplinary rounds or huddles.
• Help to grow and develop service line expansion in the hospital setting.
• Develop individualized plans and provide patient/family education.
• Ensure continued medical necessity for the stay, document for insurance and coordinate with UR/Case management for authorization.
• Participate in maintaining policies and procedures which provide for a program of preventive medicine for hospital patients and personnel to include establishment of policies and procedures relating to exposure to infectious diseases, prevention of cross-contamination, and microbiologic sampling of hospital patients and personnel (in collaboration with Infection Control and UR).  
• Help to determine patient review dates according to established diagnostic criteria.
• Assist in planning and holding federally mandated quality assurance reviews.
• Oversee utilization of GRMC resources to promote judicious use of services and enhance fiscal responsibility within the boundaries of liability concerns.
• Effectively organize and delegate patient care activities to meet patient’s family needs in the context of established work performance and productivity standards.
• Promptly address patient concerns and employ effective problem solving with patient or patient representative.
• Serve as patient advocate, educating on the program, rights, and responsibilities, and ensure advance directives are addressed.
• Role model and foster departmental and interpersonal relations consistent with the organization’s expectations, vision and mission statements.
• Actively market the program in order to find opportunities to increase referrals and participate in organization and community activities which serve to develop and improve community health and foster relationship building in the community and within the system.
• Help to collaborate with referral hospitals, clinics, and providers to help to promote the Swing Bed program.
• Continually seek new learning opportunities, experiences and education in order to meet self-development needs.
• Participate in the development, implementation and monitoring of an effective, ongoing program to measure, assess, and improve the quality of care delivered to patients.
• Actively coordinate and participate in discharge planning in cooperation with Social Services and other appropriate disciplines. 
• Accurately and timely document in the Electronic Medical Record including properly documenting skilled need and therapy intensity requirements.
• Promote a culture of accountability, professionalism, and continuous improvement.
• Collaborate with providers to address clinical concerns, barriers to care, and discharge planning.
• Help to track program metrics like admissions, length of stay, payer mix, and outcomes.
• Assist in tracking functional improvement scores, readmission rates, discharge disposition, and patient satisfaction related to rehab. 
• Lead performance improvement projects for the program.
• Perform other related duties to benefit the mission of the organization. 

Requirements

Required Skills/Abilities: 

• Ability to critically think, assess situations, problem solve, and make educated decisions.
• Strong communication skills and interpersonal abilities, particularly the ability to communicate as a leader.
• Strong organizational and time management skills in a fast-paced rural hospital environment.
• Understanding of management and financial practices in Swing Bed operations.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Have knowledge of Swing Bed regulations and documentation requirements.
• Conflict Resolution: identifying early signs of tension, encouraging empathy, acting as a mediator
• Strong case management and discharge planning skills.

Job-related Skills and Abilities: 

• Intermediate computer skills, including but not limited to: Microsoft Office, information security, scheduling and payroll systems, electronic medical documentation, and email
• Knowledge or medical criteria and insurance regulations
• Technology skills: maintaining electronic medical record and ability to learn/use associated healthcare software
• Proficient in using various medical devices and technology
• Intermediate math skills
• Ability to coordinate multidisciplinary teams

Education and Experience:

• Masters or Doctorate Physical Therapy degree from an accredited university
• Valid PT license to work in Texas
• BLS
• At least 3 years of previous therapy experience preferred with previous experience in Acute Care Rehab preferred.

Physical and Mental Requirements: 

• Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Prolonged periods of standing and walking.
• Physical strength and endurance to include: Must be able to lift and carry up to 50 pounds at times, strength to push or pull up to 100 pounds when moving equipment or patients, and ability to perform CPR.
• Mobility: frequent bending/stooping/reaching/twisting; Must be able to navigate various departments of the organization’s physical premises.
• Hand dexterity: Use of hands and fingers for a wide range of tasks, including grasping, writing, typing, and operating small medical equipment; Fine motor control: Sufficient dexterity for tasks such as picking up small objects.
• Sensory Skills: Adequate vision for observing patients, monitors, indicators, and hearing to understand instructions and patient needs.
• Stress Level: Moderate to High

OSHA Classification:

• Category I: Tasks that involve exposure to blood, body fluids or tissues.
• All procedures or other job-related tasks involve an inherent potential for mucous membrane or skin contact with blood, body fluids or tissues or a potential for spills or splashes of them are Category I tasks. Use of appropriate protective measures, such as gloves, masks, goggles, and gown are required for every employee engaged in Category I tasks.