POSITION DESCRIPTION

JOB TITLE: / RN Care Coordinator / FLSA STATUS: / Non-Exempt
DEPARTMENT: / Medical Services
SUPERVISED BY: / Director of Nursing

I. Position Function SUMMARY:

Under the direction of the Director of Nursing, the RN Care Coordinator is responsible to the WHCHC clients for rendering a variety of skilled nursing care in assigned area in terms of individualized client needs, according to dependent and independent nursing functions and conformance with recognized nursing techniques, procedures, and established standards based on the scope of nursing, under the direction/delegation of the Director of Nursing.

II.ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Department or Functional Job Assignments: This position may have various work assignments within West Hawaii Community Health Center (WHCHC). This description is intended to be generic in nature, and as such it does not detail all of the duties and responsibilities of a particular job assignment. The employee will perform a variety of skilled nursing duties involved in assessing, planning, implementing, and evaluating nursing and health care provided to the patient. Essential functions and overtime eligibility may vary based on the specific tasks assigned to the position. Various duties, responsibilities and accountabilities may be assigned to an incumbent other than those contained in this document and may be required to have specific job-related knowledge and skills. It may include but not be limited to the following:

Clinical Nursing Duties

  1. Assess the physical, functional, social, psychological, environment, and financial needs of patients.
  2. Identify a cost-effective comprehensive care plan to meet the pt’s needs as well as the families’ service needs, and implement the plan. Ensure that services are being delivered.
  3. Collaborate care with provider and integrate services with Behavioral Health specialists and other specialty services.
  4. Provide referrals to appropriate community resources; facilitate access and communication when multiple services are involved; monitor activities to ensure that services are actually being delivered and meet the needs of the client; coordinate services to avoid duplication. Work with WHCHC referral specialist to provide appropriate services.
  5. Assess the client’s formal and informal support systems.
  6. Maintain a case-management tracking system that focuses on high-risk populations.
  7. Act as patient advocate; identify and develop new community resources; assist with problem solving.
  8. Provide or assist in providing appropriate medical, nursing, or other health care in the home and/or clinic setting as needed.
  9. Maintain accurate patient records; maintain patient confidentiality.
  10. Provide and/or arrange for education in disease management; provide the knowledge and tools so patients can manage their disease effectively including self-management goal counseling, assist in scheduling regular pt. visits, and conducting periodic evaluations and knowledge updates.
  11. Help maintain data and update flow-sheets on specific disease management charts.
  12. Assist in the clinic as back-up support staff as needed. Prepares patients for examinations, including but not limited to vital signs, recording progress notes, patient interviews, collecting specimens and performing Clia-waived lab tests.
  13. Provides support in the overall operation by acknowledging, adhering to, and implementing overall organizational and medical policies and operating procedures of WHCHC.
  14. Assists providers by performing clinical tests, procedures and examinations including but not limited to administering oral and injectable medications; by performing pure-tone audiograms, visual acuity testing, non-stress tests, EKGs, and suture removals; and by monitoring patients for possible reactions to medications and treatments, responsiveness to treatment, and compliance with clinical regimens.
  15. Maintains records by observing and recording changes, progress, reactions, and treatments of assigned patients; suggests possible alterations and additions to the patient’s treatment plan.
  16. Educates patients by disseminating patient information and literature relating to health education programs including but not limited to family planning, pre-natal care, and health promotion/disease prevention for all age categories.
  17. Maintains compliance of clinic with state licensure by enforcing Quality Assurance protocols in the pharmacy, laboratory, medical supply, and nursing/patient care areas of WHCHC for quality patient care.
  18. Maintaining patient files by updating pertaining to medication refills, laboratory reports/results, patient medical visits, and other patient data/information required by the physician.
  19. Maintains and updates professional knowledge and skills, and maintains clinical proficiency by attending continuing education or seminars related to job responsibilities, including Age Specific Training (care giving, treatment, and assessments specific to the age of populations served).

III.AUTHORITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES:

General Authority:

Position has moderate line responsibility and moderate authority to make independent decisions over an assigned unit or function; a person in this position regularly takes responsibility for a key operation or function due to their level of skill and/or level of functional supervision.

Budgetary/Financial & Equipment/Asset Accountability:

Position has no accountability for budgetary or financial decisions and assets other than that which may be assigned on a limited basis to complete the work. Position responsible for care and maintenance of medical equipment assigned and used in performance of essential functions.

Supervisory Authority and Accountability:

Position is responsible for own work, and has supervisory authority or responsibility when the Charge Nurse or Director of Nursing is not available in the clinic.

Functional Authority:

The incumbent has functional authority over other WHCHC staff for specific areas of responsibility and other regular or ad hoc special projects assigned by the supervisor or CEO. The RN Case Manager may also assume temporary Charge Nurse responsibilities and authority over assigned nursing and clinical staff.

Confidential and Sensitive Information:

Because the employee has access to personal and professional data regarding individual employees and their families, personal data regarding individual patients and the families, and/or sensitive company financial data, an essential job result is the maintenance of a high level of confidentiality of the information processed by the employee. Violation of this confidence may result in disciplinary action, including termination of employment.

Other Accountabilities:

Maintains compliance of WHCHC with state licensure and other accreditation by enforcing QA protocols in the clinical areas of responsibility for quality patient care, including but not limited to laboratory, medical supply, nursing stations, patient care, and other clinical areas.

IV.WORKING RELATIONSHIPS:

Supervised by: The RN Case Manager reports to the Director of Nursing.

Supervision Exercised:The RN Case Manager may be directed by the Director of Nursing to assume temporary direct supervisory authorityas Charge Nurse in the clinic setting when the Charge Nurse(RN or LPN)is unavailable.

Coordinates Or Cooperates With:

A)Internal

  • Medical Providers – Works with providers to address specific needs of patients; assess and evaluate patients’ responses to services provided, treatment, and medication.
  • Director of Nursing/Charge Nurse – Works with Director of Nursing/Charge Nurse with patient care coordination.

B)External

  • Healthcare Agencies – Works with external agencies to schedule specialty patient appointments and laboratory tests; assists with procurement of patient supplies, medications, and other special needs of the patient.
  • Service Representatives/General Public – establish and maintain effective working relationships with those service agencies and individuals contacted in the course of working with WHCHC patients and their families.

V. POSITION SPECIFICATIONS:

A) Fair Labor Standards Act Provisions

This position is non-exempt under the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and is subject to the WHCHCpolicies and procedures pertaining to overtime hours and premium pay.

B)Requirements of Position

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and Experience

Equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university RN program and state licensure is required. Three years of increasingly responsible nursing experience, including experience in a community health care setting preferably.

Licenses and Certifications
Hawaii certification as a Registered Nurse.
BLS certification is required.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

This position requires advanced knowledge of clinical patient intake procedures, and laboratory and pharmacy protocols. Ability to use a computer to enter and retrieve patient data to complete a discharge plan. Ability to work on multiple tasks within established deadlines.Ability to work independently under the general direction of a provider and follow instructions for work completion. Ability to take the initiative to resolve patient concerns and problems. Must be able to work independently in the absence of supervision. Demonstrate leadership skills.

Language Skills:

  • Ability to read and interpret documents such as medical records, safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, procedure manuals, accreditation standards and guidelines, etc.
  • Ability to write at a moderate level of competence, including internal reports and memoranda.
  • Ability to communicate with diverse groups of people to include staff and providers and patients.
  • Ability to communicate effectively with patients and their families to make their visit a pleasant experience.
  • Preferred fluent in both English and Spanish, and sensitivity to the multicultural nature of the service area population. When doing so, such communication must be accurate and understandable by the recipient. If unable to do so, employee is required to secure the assistance of a co-worker or translation services with the appropriate language skill.

Personal Characteristics

Performs the essential functions and elements of this position following a training and orientation period of 3 months, which may be extended if necessary.Must be able to maintain complete confidentiality of medical records, patient interviews, and office memoranda. Personal characteristics to include: a team player, high integrity, communication and customer relations skills, regular work attendance, courteous and friendly, able to work well with diverse groups of people, and gain and maintain respect of others, both inside and outside WHCHC.

V.PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS/WORKING CONDITIONS

General Remarks: Work is varied and a person in this position has sufficient time to complete most tasks without a feeling of pressure. There are frequent opportunities to relax from any physical exertion or to change position in work activities. The physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical Effort and Dexterity: Within normal limits of nursing position. Must have necessary manual dexterity to perform all required clinical, laboratory, and other procedures in accordance with applicable standards and regulations.

Machines, Tools, Equipment required to be operated: Full range of medical equipment required of RN. Office equipment such as computer, calculator, copy machine, postage metering machine, computer printer, and fax machine. In order to operate motor vehicles on WHCHC business, must have a valid Hawaii drivers license, and must maintain an insurable driving record.

Visual Acuity, Hearing, Speaking: Must have necessary visual acuity, hearing and speaking to perform all required medical and clinic management procedures.

Environment/Working Conditions: Incumbent will be scheduled based on operational need. Work is mostly inside, and normal office worker safety precautions and practices are required. Incumbent will be exposed to patients' conditions and some-unpleasant sights, smells and contagious diseases including virus, disease and infection from patients and specimens in working environment. All employees are offered the opportunity to receive the Hepatitis B vaccination series, Td vaccine, annual influenza vaccine, and annual PPD testing.

Other Working Conditions: Work regularly scheduled Monday-Friday, although additional time may be required to work needed services and to meet deadlines.

OSHA Category: This position performs tasks that involve exposure to blood, body fluids, or tissues; normal medical safety precautions and practices are required.

VII.REMARKS:

The foregoing position description is not all-inclusive of the duties to which the employee may be assigned. In order to ensure maximum flexibility and efficiency and to encourage cross training, employees will be assigned additional duties as are deemed necessary or desirable by WHCHC Management or Board of Directors.

I have read my Position Description and understand my assigned responsibilities, and have been given a copy of this Position Description. I have also received a copy of the Personnel Policies and Procedures Handbook, and understand that I am responsible for reading and following all relevant policies and procedures outlined in it. I also understand the Board of Directors and management of WestHawaiiCommunityHealthCenter cannot guarantee my employment, and that WHCHC can change compensation, benefits, and conditions of my employment at any time and at its full and sole discretion. I also certify by my signature below that I am able to perform the essential functions of this position description either with or without a reasonable accommodation.

Accepted by:

EmployeeDate

Approved by:

Human ResourcesDate

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