DIRECTOR OF PATIENT FLOW

Cook County•Chicago, IL

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Director of Patient Flow is responsible for providing clinical support, facilitating efficient patient throughput, maintaining standards/regulatory requirements, and assuming the administrative role as required. Accounts for the 24-hour delivery of quality care and operational management for assigned department(s). Participates in the implementation, optimization and oversight of software programs and technology to provide real time data, development of a standardized approach for access and flow to be meaningfully measured and articulated. Identifies opportunities to optimize bed availability, develop methodologies that illustrate staffing demand, productivity, and patterns, and implement systems that facilitate and support this work. This position has a critical role in collaborating and providing leadership to teams focused on performance improvement activities related to patient access and patient flow as well as leveraging Cook County Health (CCH) resources to execute these activities.

Requirements

Licensed as a Registered Professional Nurse in the State of Illinois or must obtain Illinois license within two weeks of starting employment, is required (Must provide proof at time of interview)
Bachelor of Science in Nursing from an accredited college or university, is required (Must provide official transcripts at time of interview)
Master's Degree or higher from an accredited college or university, is required (Must provide official transcripts at time of interview)
Five (5) years of Nursing experience in an Emergency Department and inpatient patient setting as a supervisor, manager, nurse coordinator, and/or charge nurse, is required
Two (2) years of experience overseeing patient flow, is required
Knowledge and familiarity with patient flow standard
Excellent verbal and written communication skills necessary to communicate with all levels of staff and a patient population composed of diverse cultures and age groups
Demonstrate analytical and organizational, problem-solving, critical thinking, and conflict management/resolutions skills
Ability to adhere to department policies and standards utilizing best practices
Strong attention to detail, accuracy and precision

Nice To Haves

Previous experience working with Magnet hospital, is preferred
Previous experience working with Patient flow optimization, is preferred

Responsibilities

Directs, manages, and analyzes flow of all patient admissions across Cook County Health (CCH). Prepares for anticipated patient placement obstacles and creates an action plan to address potential barriers to care.
Monitors patients’ movement on a daily basis. Maintains an understanding of house-wide bed supply and demand.
Uses knowledge including patient diagnosis, infection control issues, and other circumstances to make decisions regarding where patients are placed.
Initiates new concepts, approaches, systems and procedures in the placement of patients to facilitate their admission process. Identifies opportunities to improve the placement of patients.
Responsible for assessing, developing, and implementing strategies aimed at optimizing patient access and flow.
Manages and coordinates the operational activities of assigned department(s) and personnel. Communicates with Nursing Leadership to ensure adequate staffing to admit all patients to the units and to ensure a smooth patient admission flow and avoid bottlenecks.
Works with departments to plan for daily scheduled and unscheduled bed demand. Completes rounds on the floors to assess and resolve throughput issues.
Collects, aggregates, and analyzes data related to patient flow and makes recommendations for improvement.
Develops throughput metrics for each unit.
Builds and fosters interdisciplinary, collaborative relationships within nursing units.
Communicates with providers and patient access regarding transfers, direct and post procedural admissions, when necessary. Ensures that all shifts have standardized admission, transfer, and discharge procedures.
Attends and participates in meeting, on task forces, committees, etc.
Responsible for improving hospital throughput, increasing inpatient bed utilization and reducing patient or bed turnaround delays. Develops and implements key performance indicators for improving performance.
Performs other duties as assigned.