Staff Specialist

GENERAL SUMMARY/ OVERVIEW STATEMENT:

The ACHD Staff Specialist is a clinical professional who ensures streamlined and coordinated care for ACHD patients and manages administrative projects. S/he designs, implements and evaluates opportunities to enhance operational efficiency, improve patient care, and grow as a program. The ideal candidate has clinical knowledge as well as business expertise. The Staff Specialist receives direction from and works collaboratively with the Clinical Director of the Corrigan Minehan Heart Center's Adult Congenital Heart Disease Program. Responsibilities extend to collaboration with internal and external colleagues including within the MGH, Mass General Brigham, and non-MGB entities.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Care Coordination Responsibilities

• Streamlines new patient referral workflows.

o Reviews all new patients scheduled with an ACHD provider. Orders testing and additional appointments as needed.

o Sends a new patient letter to all new patients.

o Plans, organizes, and facilitates complex referrals from national and international referrers.

o Manages list of referring providers.

o Ensures timely acquisition of medical records and imaging data. Works with fellows to summarize/integrate external records in preparation for new visits.

o Identifies ways to improve existing workflows to be more efficient.

• Coordinates integrated patient care for ACHD patients, including ACHD surgery clinic and congenital interventional clinics.

o Coordinates sub-specialty clinic patient appointments and testing access, especially for those traveling to Boston for specialized care.

o Ensures all pre-procedural testing and clearance (ie: dental clearance, anticoagulation) are completed in appropriate time frame.

o Coordinates patients referred for congenital imaging (congenital ECHO, CT, and cardiac MRI), complex transcatheter intervention, EP and congenital surgical procedures.

o Identifies and ensures pre-procedure checklist is completed at least 2 weeks before scheduled ACHD intervention.

o Coordinates with staff members to schedule follow-up appointments that are complex/require multi-clinic coordination.

• Plans, coordinates, and supports ACHD weekly multidisciplinary team (MDT) conference.

o Informs and invites referring physician to participate in the Monday multidisciplinary team conference.

o Obtains and gathers all pertinent data and completes MDT checklist before the conference: cardiology note (vital signs, exam), echo / CT / MRI images, catheterization data, and ECG

o Documents data and MDT discussion recommendation details in Epic.

o Documents bullet point treatment plan in the weekly word document.

o Calls the referring provider to inform them of the management decision if they were unable to attend the conference.

o Places appropriate referral and testing orders as needed.

o Calls patients to inform them of the management decision of the conference.

• Coordinates transition for patients from pediatric cardiology to ACHD program

o Works with pediatric cardiology transition nurse to provide a seamless transition of care.

o Works with pediatric cardiology clinic to coordinate patients identified as ready for transition and provides education to patients preparing to transition.

o Informs ACHD team about pending transition patients.

o Coordinates ACHD cardiologist introduction visit with patient in pediatric cardiology clinic

Program Management Responsibilities

• Identifies and assists in philanthropic efforts for the growth and funding of the ACHD program.

• Represents the ACHD program on interdepartmental and external committees, including educational programs.

o Plans and organizes annual CME course, ACHA heart walk, etc.

o Identifies ways to increase visibility of MGH ACHD program at the national and international level.

• Regularly reviews patient database to track referrals and program volume.

o Reports out key takeaways and opportunities to ACHD team.

o Oversees follow-up management of discharged patients.

Personnel Development

o Interprets and integrates program values, standards, goals, policies and procedures through on-going programs, committee involvement and consultation.

o Identifies current and future program/service needs in collaboration with leadership, and shares responsibility for meeting these needs.

Professional Development

o Identifies learning needs and goals and designs a plan to meet them.

o Supports and participates in case management leadership group.

o Enhances own professional development and contributes to the achievement of program goals.

o Completes department mandatory training. This is a hybrid position with 3 days onsite and 2 days remote. Onsite work is performed in a medical office. Walking to and from the patient care units can be expected.

Requirements:

• MA RN license

• Bachelor's degree in nursing

• Masters degree in nursing, business, or the equivalent preferred

EXPERIENCE:

Minimum of 5 years' experience in cardiac patient care.

Experience building teams, streamlining workflows, and problem solving