Clinic Triage - MA

JOB DESCRIPTION:            Clinic Nurse Triage (RN, LPN or MA)

REPORTS TO:                      Site Administrator

DEFINITION OF POSITION:  Gastroenterology nurse triage functions involve answering patient inquiries, assessing the severity of gastrointestinal symptoms, and guiding patients to appropriate care. This may include scheduling appointments, providing medical advice, and documenting patient information. The role also involves educating patients about their conditions and treatment options. The RN, LPN, or MA provides individualized and specialized nursing care to patients in the Clinic in accordance with physician’s orders, recognized nursing techniques, legal aspects of the current nurse practice act within the state of Idaho, and the Practice’s policies and procedures. The Registered Nurse, Licensed Practical Nurse, or Medical Assistant functions cooperatively with physicians and staff, exhibiting teamwork characteristics.  Demonstrates initiative, insight, and judgment in decision-making process. 

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

1.      Accept directions from supervisor, physicians, and mid-level providers and adhere to

established policy and procedures.

2.      Consult with appropriate supervisor, physicians, and mid-level providers as needed.

3.      Maintain the patient’s right to privacy by not discussing privileged information outside the work area or within hearing range of visitors/family or patient.

4.      Function within the legal limits of the Nurse Practice Act.

5.      Refer situations beyond the ability or function to the proper person.

6.      Seeks educational opportunities and accepts responsibility for own professional growth and development.  Participates in in-service opportunities and staff meetings.

7.      Partners with providers associated with the designated site, yet is assistive to all providers at IGA when needed.

8.      Maintains computer skills necessary to function in the electronic medical record and Idaho Health Data Exchange.

9.      Supports physicians, advanced practitioners, and medical assistants in high-level direct patient care for high-risk patients, including inpatients transitioning to outpatient care, IBD to include infusion therapy, Cirrhotic requiring diuretic management, pancreato-biliary disease, transplant patients, newly diagnosed colon, liver or esophageal cancer, gastroparesis, pancreatitis, and PEG patients

10.  Facilitate patient access to services provided at IGA. Additionally, facilitate communication between IGA providers for the transition of care via referral.

11.  Investigate and refer patients to appropriate social service programs.

12.  Follows current prescription policy.

13.  Assists in keeping staff break room neat.

14.  Utilizes Microsoft Outlook email for non-patient correspondence and the electronic medical records messages for patient care correspondence/documentation. 

15.  Demonstrates respect for IGA policies for security, privacy, and confidentiality while using IGA equipment

16.  Immediately report any network, hardware, or software malfunction to the IT Officer or Supervisors

17.  Communicates pertinent information to others.

18.  Perform related and other duties as assigned by supervisor

19.  Maintain compliance with all company policies and procedures.

SPECIFIC POSITION TASKS:

1.      Manages all incoming patient triage calls, assessing urgency and determining appropriate next steps. Coordinates with physicians and providers to appropriately provide guidance to the patients.

2.      Manages all urgent/emergent patients immediately, ensuring prompt care delivery.

3.      Provide clear and concise communication with patients and other healthcare providers via phone, email, or other communication channels.

4.      Conducts an initial telephone assessment of the patient using approved protocols as well as review of patient’s medical record documentation. This includes evaluating patient symptoms, medical history, and patient's vital signs to determine the urgency and level of care needed. Send and review tasks for physicians/providers in a timely manner, consistent with practice protocols, when additional provider input is needed to address patients’ needs.

5.      Educate patients about their conditions, treatment plans, and potential risks and benefits.

6.      Guide patients to appropriate levels of care, including scheduling appointments, recommending self-care, or advising when to seek immediate medical attention.

7.      Follows physician/provider-defined protocols for identifying need for same-day or next-day office visits with an APP.

8.      Triage non-emergent needs to the appropriate care team member for response:

a.       Medical Assistant (MA)

b.      MD/Advanced Practice Provider (APP)

c.       Nurse Navigator

d.      Care Coordinator

e.       Health History Nurses

9.      Accurately record patient information, triage assessments, and communication details in the patient's medical record.

10.  Contribute to the development and maintenance of triage protocols and guidelines.

11.  Refers situations beyond ability or function to proper person.

12.  Assist clinical care teams when needed.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

·      Full Range of body motion, including handling and lifting patients

·      Requires working under stressful conditions and requires standing and walking for extended periods of time.

·      Exposure to communicable diseases and/or bodily fluids

·      Ability to safely and successfully perform the essential job functions consistent with the ADA, FMLA and other federal, state and local standards, including meeting qualitative and/or quantitative productivity standards.

·      Ability to maintain regular, punctual attendance consistent with the ADA, FMLA, and other federal, state and local standards.

·      Must be able to lift and carry up to 50 lb.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES REQUIRED: (IE: Supervision, computers, etc.).

•        Knowledge of medical terminology
•        Demonstrated customer–first attitude and philosophy
•        Ability to learn computer and application skills as applicable to role
•        Ability to interact with and work around people
•        Ability to make judgments in demanding situations
•        Ability to react to frequent changes in duties and volume of work
•        Effective oral and written communication skills
•        Ability to listen empathetically
•        Ability to logically organize details
•        Ability to manage multiple concurrent activities
•        Knowledge of interpersonal communications in a complex organization
•        Commitment to respectful patient and family-centered care
•        Commitment to respectful treatment of all colleagues
•        Commitment to patient privacy
•        Commitment to patient safety

QUALIFICATIONS: 

·         Registered Nurse (RN), Licensed Practical Nurse License, or graduate of an accredited medical assistant program

·         Two (2) years of nursing experience preferred.

·         Current BLS Certification

·         One (1) year of experience in a comparable setting preferred