Job Abstract

Join us at Cleveland Clinic Akron General Hospital where we have been providing world-class care to our community for over 100 years. Cleveland Clinic is recognized as one of the top hospitals in the nation. At Akron General, we strive for patient-centered care and comfort with our collaborative team of healthcare professionals. We are committed to serving the community and treat our patients as family.  

The RN Hospice Coordinator, acts as a member of the interdisciplinary team for the assigned functions related to the coordination of services with internal and external referral sources. The RN is responsible for processing inpatient referrals into hospice, ensuring continuity of care, and coordinates discharge planning in contract facilities.  You will provide, plan and direct patient care to hospice patients in accordance with the agency policies and procedures and the plan of care established by the interdisciplinary team.

The ideal caregiver is someone who:

• Has teamwork and motivational skills. 

• Can build relationships with patients, physicians, community agencies and institutions while providing excellent customer service.

• Has knowledgeable regarding JCAHO and Medicare standards and regulations.

At Cleveland Clinic, we know what matters most. That's why we treat our caregivers as if they are our own family, and we are always creating ways to be there for you. Here, you'll find that we offer: resources to learn and grow, a fulfilling career for everyone, and comprehensive benefits that invest in your health, your physical and mental well-being and your future. When you join Cleveland Clinic, you'll be part of a supportive caregiver family that will be united in shared values and purpose to fulfill our promise of being the best place to receive care and the best place to work in healthcare.

Responsibilities:

• Actively engages and educates potential customers to the benefits and appropriateness of hospice care. 
• Ensures the patient and his/her family has adequate knowledge and understanding of the hospice benefit. 
• Processes inquiries for all new referrals (internal and external).
• Ensures seamless transition from hospital to the community setting by coordinating the following hospice services at time of discharge: 
  • Ordering of medications within scope of practice,
  • Ordering supplies and DME,
  • Hand-off communication with field team, and
  • Documentation in the electronic medical record
• Performs assessment of potential patients consistent with Cleveland Clinic Hospice policies, procedures and admission criteria in conjunction with the patient’s physician.
• Performs admission assessments for new admissions into contracted facilities and documents information in the EMR within specified time frame.
• Plans delivery of patient care in collaboration with other disciplines to provide comfort and symptom management.
• Performs daily assessment and coordinates the plan of care with /in-patient staff for General Inpatients (GIP).  Assesses patient for safety risks, abuse and neglect.
• Assesses and documents patient’s pain using appropriate pain scale and manages patient’s pain.
• Documents changes in patient condition and effectiveness and timeliness of care/interventions.
• Evaluates, updates, and revises plan of care to facilitate achievement of expected outcomes.
• Knows action, usual dosage, indications and side effects of medications administered.
• Assumes responsibility for coordination of care for managing a caseload of patients in the inpatient setting.
• Flexibility in setting and revising priorities for one’s daily assignment based on patient needs/acuity, family requests and available resources.
• Attend interdisciplinary meetings as assigned.

Education:

• Graduate of an accredited school of professional nursing.  BSN Preferred. 

Languages:

• English required

Certifications:

• Current licensure as a Registered Nurse (RN) in the State of Ohio required.
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification through the American Heart Association (AHA).
• Valid Ohio Driver’s License upon hire; per policy 8-175 thereafter.
• Proof of automobile insurance coverage with $100,000/$300,000 coverage upon hire; per policy 8-175 thereafter.

Competencies (Complexity of Work):

• Requires working under stressful conditions
• Hours of work will vary dependent on the needs of the referral sources.  Irregular work hours may be required.
• Requires travel to hospitals and community referral sources.

Work Experience:

• Minimum one year current clinical experience as a registered nurse.
• Minimum one year experience in an acute medical-surgical or critical care setting.  

Physical Requirements:

• Requires full range of body motion including handling and lifting packages, manual and finger dexterity and eye hand coordination.  Occasionally lifts and carries items up to 50 pounds.  Requires corrected vision and hearing to normal range.
• Requires standing and walking for extensive periods of time.

Keywords: pall/med, palliative medicine, hospice, liaison, discharge, admission, coordinator

The policy of Cleveland Clinic Health System and its system hospitals (Cleveland Clinic Health System) is to provide equal opportunity to all of our caregivers and applicants for employment in our tobacco free and drug free environment. All offers of employment are followed by testing for controlled substance and nicotine. All offers of employment are follwed by testing for controlled substances and nicotine. All new caregivers must clear a nicotine test within their 90-day new hire period. Candidates for employment who are impacted by Cleveland Clinic Health System's Smoking Policy will be permitted to reapply for open positions after one year.

Cleveland Clinic Health System administers an influenza prevention program. You will be required to comply with this program, which will include obtaining an influenza vaccination on an annual basis or obtaining an approved exemption.

Decisions concerning employment, transfers and promotions are made upon the basis of the best qualified candidate without regard to color, race, religion, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, ancestry, status as a disabled or Vietnam era veteran or any other characteristic protected by law. Information provided on this application may be shared with any Cleveland Clinic Health System facility. 

Please review the Equal Employment Opportunity poster. 

Cleveland Clinic Health System is pleased to be an equal employment employer: Women / Minorities / Veterans / Individuals with Disabilities