Patient Placement Coordinator

University of Utah Health•South Salt Lake, UT

About The Position

The Patient Placement Coordinator coordinates dispatch services and patient throughput and placement across University of Utah Health. The role uses a multi-line telephone system to receive and relay information, creates and logs encounters, and works with clinicians and physicians to coordinate admissions and inter-facility transfers. The coordinator gathers and verifies patient information, updates registration details, and works across electronic systems supporting clinical and financial operations. The position supports patient safety, appropriate placement, and hospital capacity management in a 24/7 healthcare environment. It collaborates with hospital departments and external agencies, facilitates Tele-Medicine calls and encounters, supports downtime procedures, and assists with reporting, patient accounts, billing, and patient-class accuracy. Rotating schedules may include variable hours, nights, weekends, and holidays according to operational and patient-care needs.

Requirements

Six months of related experience, or equivalency.
Availability to work variable and rotating shifts, including nights, weekends, and holidays, in a 24/7 patient-care environment.
Ability to perform the essential functions of the position.
Effective human-relations and verbal and written communication skills.
Ability to speak concisely and distinctly and remain calm and competent.
Ability to prioritize and manage a large workload in a stressful, fast-paced environment.
Critical-thinking and problem-solving ability.
Ability to navigate multiple computer systems and demonstrate efficient computer skills.
Strong customer-service skills.

Responsibilities

Provide a high level of customer service and answer incoming calls on a multi-line telephone system.
Contact appropriate personnel to support the safety and protection of people and property, and work closely with other dispatch centers.
Communicate scheduled and emergency utility outages to affected departments when needed.
Relay relevant information by telephone or two-way radio and answer questions.
Collaborate with clinicians, physicians, nurses, administration, emergency medical services, fire departments, and law enforcement to coordinate inter-facility transfers and patient throughput.
Coordinate hospital patient placement and admissions.
Coordinate and facilitate Tele-Medicine calls and encounters through the Transfer Center's Tele-Hub line.
Collaborate with the Hospital Nursing Supervisor on plans to support the hospital and prevent Divert Status.
Prioritize and triage patient placement based on medical necessity, current location, room availability, and hospital capacity, including special placement and supervision needs.
Assist with the daily Acute Care Service line bed huddle and capture real-time demand information.
Assist with and report patient safety regulations, compliance, and billing.
Prepare system reports and work queues to create surgical and medical accounts for incoming patients.
Use multiple electronic systems for patient throughput, admissions, and financial and clinical operations.
Work with Case Management and inpatient units to ensure accurate billing patient class and accommodation codes.
Gather patient information, enter it into the appropriate electronic system, and verify its accuracy, including documenting conversations to support follow-up.
Update patient demographic and registration information as needed.
Assist with scheduled and unscheduled system downtimes.
Maintain regular, reliable, and punctual attendance during assigned shifts.