RN Hospice Team Leader

Overview

Relocation Assistance Available

Legacy Hospice Services has been in the Portland Metro area for over 100 years, serving to enhance the quality of life for terminally ill patients and their families. We offer care for all ages, having the only pediatric hospice program in the area as well. We offer highly skilled trained staff to allow patients and their families the ability to spend what remaining time they have comfortable in their own home setting, wherever that may be.

Responsibilities

This RN team leader will coordinate admissions and subsequent evaluations of hospice patients for the program(s) assigned. Manages case-load distribution to insure adequate clinical staffing across all teams and to promote continuity of care.

Completes the referral intake process. Acts as a clinical resource to staff in the field. Serves as a liaison between the patient, Legacy hospital staff, physicians, case managers and other referral source to complete the Referral Intake process for home or in-patient hospice services. May provide patient care at patient's homes or in the hospital on an as-needed basis.

Qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education:

Academic degree in nursing (BSN or MSN/MN) required.

Experience:

Three years of experience in healthcare setting with minimum of two years of experience in a hospice setting. Must have knowledge of the Hospice Medicare Benefit, principles and practical application of hospice.

Knowledge/Skills:

Working knowledge of and the ability to apply the basic principles and techniques of community hospice nursing in a variety of home settings.

Ability to work collaboratively with an inter-disciplinary professional team.

Ability to provide an organized, efficient approach to case-load distribution.

Good teaching and coaching skills.

Ability to demonstrate understanding and support of agency policies, legal considerations and professional ethics.

Ability to organize multiple concurrent tasks and prioritize effectively.

Broad knowledge and skill in application of the principles of hospice and end of life care.

Coordinate all hospice services performed by nurse/MSW on the weekends and holidays.

Must possess excellent communication skills both verbal and in writing.

Knowledge of home care disciplines scope of service.

Broad knowledge of intra specialty programs including Pediatrics, Bereavement and Infusion Services.

Ability to work effectively with physicians, hospital personnel, and allied community agencies.

Requires the ability to recommend or refer alternate services or programs.

Must be able to operate telephone, voice mail, and computer.

Familiarity with insurance verification and authorization processes.

Self-motivated, Self-directed

Compassionate

Keyboard skills and ability to navigate electronic systems applicable to job functions.

LEGACY'S VALUES IN ACTION:

Follows guidelines set forth in Legacy's Values in Action.

GENERAL ACCOUNTABILITIES AND ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Communication is effective, open and respectful to all customers.

Meets established hospitality standards.

Considers the needs of clients and their families, other employees, physicians, visitors, volunteers, vendors and members of the community in an informative, courteous and compassionate manner.

Develops succinct, accurate and effective written communications for staff, peers, and agency departments.

Communicates in an effective, accurate and respectful manner.

Current operations, technical and related team facilitation knowledge is maintained so that the inter-disciplinary team is efficient and effective.

Maintains knowledge of teambuilding principles and techniques.

Assists Manager with professional development activities for inter-disciplinary team staff.

Assists Manager in providing orientation and training of team field staff and clerical support.

Maintains high standards of professional practice by adhering to the ethics of the profession and keeping abreast of the latest professional advances.

Participates and facilitates staff participation in agency education and training as identified by regulatory bodies.

Assists manager in assuring appropriate supplies and equipment are available for individual disciplines.

Obtains input from team regarding in-service and education needs and collaborates with manager on how to address those needs.

Quality services are provided so that internal/external customer's needs are met.

Provides resource information to assigned staff.

Assists staff in emergency decision making related to patient care.

Serves as a resource for physicians and payors regarding patient care issues.

Maintains clinical knowledge base to ensure the provision of excellent clinical care and to serve as a resource to staff.

Facilitates and monitors timely and accurate documentation by assigned staff; works with staff to ensure timely submission of paperwork.

Works with Quality Improvement staff and manager to incorporate case management principles into patient care.

Participates in patient care conferences to assist staff in coordinating care plans, utilization management, and to ensure proper adherence to LHS policies.

Provides input into performance appraisals of clerical support and other staff as requested.

Support for LHS and agency values/missions/goals is demonstrated through participation in activities focused on System and agency-wide design and implementation of work processes.

Understands, and interprets to staff, physicians, other home health agencies, etc., agency policy and procedures.

Provides input into policy, procedure and forms development.

Serves as a role model in assisting with the implementation of planned organizational change.

Adheres to departmental budget with regard to education time, FTEs and utilization of on-call staff.

Assists in developing quality planning and monitoring indicators with manager and department; assists in data collection and assists with the implementation of changes as necessary.

Assists with monitoring productivity standards.

Maintains patient census/statistics and provides reports as necessary on services provided in geographic area.

Maintains client confidentiality and abides by clients' rights and responsibilities.

Participates in resource utilization reviews with physicians, managers, case managers, payors and field staff to assure utilization is appropriate and to implement action plans for resolution of variances with appropriate disciplines.

Coordinates overall team activities.

Works with discipline members, clerical support, manager on case-load distribution and student assignment.

Assists manager in evaluating staff needs for the team.

Determines on-call utilization.

May provide clinical input for scheduling function; assists team clerical assistant.

Referral forms are accurately developed and processed in accordance with Admission Policies and Procedures.

Receives and processes patient referrals with attention to detail.

Follows up on incomplete referrals to secure necessary information as needed.

Obtains authorization and recertification for requested services when required by payor

Follows up on Legacy Hospice Service patients admitted to acute care facilities, and notifies Legacy Hospice intake of home care or Hopewell House inpatient needs at discharge.

Demonstrates ability to decide on work priorities/work flow which are consistent with agency needs and timeliness. Productivity is demonstrated.

Responds to customer information requests promptly.

Sets priorities appropriately.

Manages workload effectively.

Creative problem solving skills.

Consistently meets department timelines for completion of activities related to position.

Knowledge and Skill is demonstrated by assisting in a timely manner transfer of patients to the safest and most cost effective setting based on patient care requirements, support needs and reimbursement parameters. Serves as resource and/or liaison for agency field staff/managers, patients, physicians, payers, and other referral sources in areas of problem solving, clarification of referral information and assisting in the referral process.

Educates physicians, payor sources, and other health professionals concerning the range of home care services available and qualifying criteria with various pay sources.

Functions as the primary Referral Intake of physicians, nursing homes and other community professionals

Demonstrates the ability to exercise informed judgment by appropriately seeking consultation and assistance from other healthcare members as necessary.

Prepares reports on home care referrals and coordination activities as required.

Referrals reflect that the nursing process is utilized in the development and communication of the initial home care plan of treatment by using documentation that reflects a thorough assessment of relevant medical, emotional, social and financial issues.

Demonstrates (appropriate to scope) assessment and judgment in recommending and developing discharge plans and post discharge goals.

Suggests additional programs and services available within the community as appropriate i.e. Community Resources, hospital alternatives, and DME vendors.

Recognizes the patient's care needs that may exceed our scope of practice and directs patient to resources that can meet their needs.

Support for Continuous Quality Improvement is demonstrated. Understands and can verbalize LHS CQI principles.

Identifies and meets customer needs consistently.

Reports and works to resolve problems associated with patient services/therapy

Participates in Legacy Hospice Services and LHS CQI efforts.

COMPETENCIES

If competencies are required for this position (either by regulation or law), competencies will be identified and assessed by the manager according to required timeframes.

The above accountabilities represent work performed by this position and are not all-inclusive. The omission of a specific accountability will not preclude it from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical extension of the position.

Licensure

Licensure:

Current applicable state RN license required.

Current BLS/CPR required.

Valid driver's License.

Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse (CHPN) from the National Board for Certification of Hospice & Palliative Nurses (NBCHPN) preferred.

Min

USD $51.18/Hr.

Max

USD $76.44/Hr.