Supervisor - Hospice Access Center

Job Category: Nursing

• Registered Nurse Work Shift/Schedule: 8 Hr Morning
• Afternoon Northeast Georgia Health System is rooted in a foundation of improving the health of our communities. About the Role: Job Summary Responsible for coordinating the Access Center of the hospice program including the Intake and Admission Nurses. Responsible for coordinating the different hospice levels of care to appropriate patients. Responsible for day to day management of patient care admission activities and supervision of clinical personnel to ensure excellent patient care outcomes and in compliance with state and federal regulations, organizational policies and accreditation standards. Responsible for the hiring, training, development, competence, and retention of intake and admission staff. Monitors and assures the proper utilization of resources striving to improve financial targets. Provides admission training to clinical staff and assists with admission visits as needed. Minimum Job Qualifications
• Licensure or other certifications: Registered Nurse from a state approved University or school of nursing. Current professional licensure. Maintains BLS certification.
• Educational Requirements: Associates Degree.
• Minimum Experience: Four (4) years of clinical experience, preferably in hospice or home health with Bachelor's degree; Associate's degree and 6-7 years equivalent experience considered. Proven ability to work within an interdisciplinary setting.
• Other: Preferred Job Qualifications
• Preferred Licensure or other certifications: CHPN.
• Preferred Educational Requirements: Bachelors Degree in Nursing.
• Preferred Experience: Management experience.
• Other: Job Specific and Unique Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills. Sense of humor and empathy with ability to mentor, lead and develop staff. Clinical skills, organization, and management skills. Proficient with computers and software applications.
• Organized with an ability to set priorities and use time effectively.
• Excellent critical thinking and decision making skills. Ability to handle a workload that fluctuates greatly based on rapidly changing situations.
• Ability to understand complex Medicare/Medicaid regulatory and accreditation requirements and standards, policies and procedures.
• Excellent skills in organization and attention to detail. Action and goal oriented. Self-directed.
• Ability to analyze and correlate clinical care with financial and regulatory requirements and accreditation standards and to propose and implement processes to ensure compliance with same. Essential Tasks and Responsibilities
• Responsible for Human Resource management of all direct report staff. Responsible for recruitment, hiring, development, supervision, and retention of all direct report staff positions. Ensures effective communication with staff via meetings and other formats. Ensures competence and quality of care delivering a high standard of care delivery. Conducts quality monitoring, documentation audits, performance evaluations and counseling to direct staff to ensure compliance with policies and procedures, state and federal regulations and accrediting bodies. Responsible for intake and admission staff productivity and efficient resource utilization. Ensures work schedules and assignments of staff to ensure adequate coverage to meet patient/family and of the organization needs of the organization. Collaborates with the Hospice Leadership Team to ensure optimal functioning of intake/admission department.
• Directs the implementation of improved work methods and procedures to ensure nursing services are delivered in accordance with regulations and policy. Participates in the development and implementation of annual Performance Improvement Plan. Serves as a member of the Survey Readiness Team. Reviews all standards annually and participates in action plans as indicated. Oversees and coordinates as needed all admission training of clinical and other IDT staff. Assists the Hospice Executive Director in preparation of an annual budget for the intake and admissions department and monitors and controls allocation of resources according to budgetary limitations. Identifies opportunities for additional or improved services to address unmet customer needs. Participates in development and revision of policies and procedures as appropriate.
• Supervises the planning and delivery of patient/family care and provides guidance in communication, coordination and effective operation relating to patient care, utilizing clinical knowledge and knowledge of current regulatory and reimbursement changes. Maintains a monthly schedule to ensure appropriate level and skill mix of staff to meet patient/family needs. Follows productivity standards for staff and controls case pay usage. Schedules staff fairly. Oversees the Intake and Admission department staff. Works with staff to develop processes and staffing to provide rapid response to all referral source requests, encouraging open access approach to all appropriate referrals. Develops and maintains the database to ensure that accurate and adequate data is recorded and maintained. As needed, conducts consults and admissions with patients/families. Fosters a positive and creative approach to challenging referrals and patient/family situations. Approaches all identified concerns with strong service recovery approach.
• Ensures facilitation of the referral and admission process of hospice services for efficient and effective continuity of care. Processes referrals to assure efficient pre-qualifying of patients. Demonstrates knowledge regarding the scope of services and of all policies and procedures of the organization. Communicates effectively with referral sources and team members to support the business partnerships being developed by the organization. Provides excellent customer service, speaking clearly and communicating information in a manner appropriate to the caller/audience. Obtains thorough medical, demographic, and financial information on all referrals and ensures optimal communication with patient care managers and/or admitting clinician for smooth transition to services. Ensures patients are called to notify and verify information/obtains directions to patient home. Identifies the need for an interpreter as appropriate. Demonstrates a clear understanding of advanced treatments hospice can provide and coordinate the delivery of these services as needed. Consults with attending Physician and/or Hospice Medical Director to determine appropriateness of referral for admission to the hospice program based upon Medicare/Medicaid/intermediary requirements and admission criteria. Ensures that all possible options are exhausted to assist the referral sources to meet the needs of the patient, even when services are not ordered or the patient is not eligible for services.
• Ensures accurate and timely processing of all hospice referrals and associated orders and certifications. Ensures that all possible options are exhausted to assist the referral sources to meet the needs of the patient, even when services are not ordered or the patient is not eligible for services. Assists with referral to other community resources when a referral does not meet criteria for hospice admission. Provides education and updates staff on changes in medical and financial requirements regarding hospice admission and coverage. Supports the achievement of admission goals by conducting conversion follow up calls on referrals not admitted. Coordinates as needed with leadership staff on process for follow-up calls. Coordinates care to ensure that new admissions have appropriate medical equipment, supplies and medications arranged for safe, efficient and excellent care for the patient and family/caregivers. Communicates effectively with vendors. Develops processes and systems to ensure accuracy of medical equipment, medication and