Patient Placement Case Mgr

Baystate Health • Springfield, MA

2d

About The Position

The RN, Patient Placement Bed Manager facilitates accurate patient placement throughout the health system based on clinical relevance, while applying care management skills to support organizational fiscal goals. The role supports the patient throughput assistant and serves as the clinical expert and decision maker for daily throughput at BHS. It integrates clinical and financial considerations to guide appropriate levels of care and placement decisions.

The position manages BH ED admission requests and Regional Transfer Center requests, coordinating placement in BH hospitals where patients can receive care in the appropriate setting. It works closely with providers on transfer requests for specialty services, manages internal patient flow between levels of care and beds, and upholds established decision-making processes for bed assignment and throughput.

The role reviews admissions to identify the appropriate level of care, possible practice guideline use, anticipated length of stay, and expected care needs. In collaboration with the health care team, it evaluates patients’ and families’ medical, psychosocial, and physical needs; applies utilization analysis and management principles; and communicates relevant findings and changes in level of care. The position also addresses placement problems and excessive length of stay in accordance with departmental policies, helping ensure patients receive evidence-based care in the appropriate unit and hospital.

Requirements

• Massachusetts-licensed Registered Nurse.
• Bachelor’s degree in Nursing.
• Five years of acute-care clinical nursing experience.
• Working knowledge of community resources and Utilization/Quality Review standards.
• Understanding of hospital patient-placement guidelines and patient throughput.
• Critical-thinking skills and ability to assess and prioritize decisions in a rapidly changing environment.
• Excellent interpersonal skills to interact with health care providers and support staff at all levels.
• Excellent computer, telephone, organizational, and relationship-building skills.

Nice To Haves

• Emergency Department experience is strongly preferred.
• Critical Care experience is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Facilitate accurate patient placement based on clinical relevance and care management considerations.
• Support the patient throughput assistant and act as the clinical expert and daily throughput decision maker for BHS.
• Integrate clinical and financial considerations into level-of-care and patient-placement decisions.
• Manage BH ED admission requests and Regional Transfer Center requests for placement in BH hospitals.
• Work with providers on specialty-service transfer requests to ensure care can be provided before acceptance.
• Manage internal patient flow, including moves between levels of care and beds.
• Review admissions to identify level of care, potential use of practice guidelines, anticipated length of stay, and expected care needs.
• Work with the health care team to evaluate patients’ and families’ medical, psychosocial, and physical needs and determine appropriate bed placement.
• Serve as a resource to the health care team on management guided by evidence-based practice guidelines.
• Perform utilization analysis on admission using screening criteria, guidelines, nursing expertise, and sound judgment in accordance with departmental policies.
• Communicate utilization analysis information and changes in level of care to the health care team.
• Coordinate requests for appropriate beds based on patients’ levels of care and clinical needs.
• Assess admission appropriateness and level of care, and facilitate discussion of care plans for the appropriate setting.
• Address placement problems and excessive length of stay in accordance with departmental policies, communicating issues to the department manager as appropriate.
• Use clinical skills and knowledge to support quality, evidence-based care and assignment to the appropriate unit and BH hospital with the correct status.

Benefits

• Competitive total compensation, including pay, benefits, and other employee recognition programs.
• Comprehensive benefits package (specific benefits not listed).
• Incentive payments may apply to the role.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Mid Level