Patient Flow RN - 0.9 FTE, 12-hr, Day Shift

Stanford Health Care•Palo Alto, CA

2d•$75 - $99•Onsite

About The Position

The Patient Flow RN is a new role within the Emergency Department at Stanford Health Care, designed to support the transfer program. This role requires a motivated and flexible individual capable of implementing and monitoring the program to track, refine, and streamline the transfer process. Strong interpersonal skills are vital for working closely with external facilities to gain transfer acceptance and communicate with patients regarding their transfers. This role reports to the Hospital Operations Manager.

Requirements

Bachelors of Science in Nursing Degree from an accredited college or university required
Five (5) years of acute care nursing experience required
CA-RN (Registered Nurse) required
BLS - Basic Life Support required
Understanding of the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA), third-party payer regulations (e.g., Medi-Cal, Medicare), and compliance with federal and state hospital laws and guidelines.
Strong clinical judgment for triaging patients, prioritizing care, and assessing patient needs; knowledge of medical terminology, health promotion, risk reduction, and disease management.
Excellent verbal and written communication abilities for effective interaction with patients, families, staff, and external stakeholders.
Exceptional organizational abilities to manage multiple tasks and prioritize patient needs in a fast-paced environment.
Ability to identify and resolve issues in patient flow, particularly in high-demand times; demonstrated skills in teaching, educating, and critical thinking.
Knowledge and experience using Epic Electronic Health Records (EHR) and familiarity with computer systems and software relevant to the role.
Ability to integrate patient care with the interdisciplinary healthcare team and provide guidance to non-licensed personnel.
Skills in developing and implementing patient assessments and care plans, monitoring access to appropriate care, and ensuring continuity in patient healthcare.
Ability to apply nursing ethics and professional guidelines to clinical practice; knowledge of medical and professional nursing ethics and patient privacy rights.
Understanding of financial processes related to healthcare services, hospital operations, and the continuum of care available to patients.
Ability to mentor staff and promote team building; skills in project development and management, if applicable.
Ability to resolve conflicts and negotiate effectively to achieve positive outcomes and maintain interpersonal relationships.
Commitment to pursuing ongoing education to enhance clinical and professional knowledge and skills.

Nice To Haves

Master’s Degree preferred
Two (2) years of emergency nursing, transfer center nursing, case management or care coordination experience, or directly related work experience preferred
EMTALA Risk Management
Knowledge of insurance coverage
Transfer Center experience

Responsibilities

Screen patients for anticipated internal or external transfers to the healthcare system and discharge planning needs.
Collaborate with the transfer center to arrange patient transfers between locations, such as from the Emergency Department to outside hospitals.
Expedite the transfer and discharge process to decrease length of stay.
Participate in care progression in collaboration with case management and the care team, such as appropriate tests and assessments to inform safe transfer and discharge to other hospitals.
Document findings and recommendations for patient transfers or transports.
Facilitate patient throughput with a focus on admissions and discharges.
Attend relevant daily rounds and huddles, representing patient throughput.
Triage barriers to discharge to optimize hospital capacity.
Collaborate with care coordination teams to facilitate timely implementation of discharge plans for patients with complex needs.
Manage each patient's transition through the system and ensure care team accountability for transfers and/or discharge.
Liaise with Operations leadership and team members regarding clinical priorities and synchronization based on system needs.
Liaise with hospital management to activate escalation policies to reduce emergency department overcrowding.
Maintain communication with other hospitals to manage escalations efficiently.
Perform effective handoff communication to support continuity of care.
Collaborate with leadership to identify quality and process improvement strategies and enhance process efficiency.
Conduct chart audits to ensure care plans are updated, particularly regarding admission and discharge information.
Manage deviations from patient care pathways and resolve bottlenecks in service delivery.
Participate in performance improvement activities at the department and organizational levels.
Utilize performance improvement methodologies to identify opportunities for care/service enhancement.
Identify and address educational needs of patients and families.
Serve as a resource and consultant to nurses, physicians, and families regarding patient flow practices.
Support the orientation of new staff members and serve as a mentor on throughput practices to staff.
Demonstrate leadership by promoting engagement, team building, and participating in formal and informal development and evaluation of competencies.
Maximize productivity through effective time management and prioritization.
Pursue lifelong learning to enhance clinical and professional knowledge.
Participate in department program planning, goal setting, and process improvement initiatives.
Perform other duties as assigned, including on-call responsibilities.