Pre/Post Surgical Optimization RN Navigator

Mass General Brigham•Wellesley, MA

9d•$58,656 - $142,449•Hybrid

About The Position

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Mass General Brigham Population Health Services Organization (PHSO) as a Registered Nurse Navigator (RNN) focused on high-risk and medically complex surgical patients within the CMS Transforming Episode Accountability Model (TEAM). This is a mandatory, episode-based, alternative payment model, in which Mass General Brigham will coordinate optimal care for traditional Medicare patients undergoing one of five specified surgical procedures and assume responsibility for the cost and quality of care from surgery through the first 30 days after the patient leaves the hospital. The model aims to improve the patient experience preoperatively, through surgery and recovery. This will be done by supporting the coordination and transition of care between providers and promoting a successful recovery that can reduce unnecessary post-acute care utilization and readmissions. The RNN will support multidisciplinary management of patients with elevated clinical complexity across the pre-operative and post-discharge phases. As part of the larger Navigator team that includes Physical Therapy Navigators (PTN), patient coordinators, and Advanced Practice Providers (APPs), they will complement the workflows and patient support by addressing higher-acuity needs, promoting appropriate care pathways, support APPs and geriatricians in managing high risk patients, and improving outcomes across the episode of care. Under the direction of the team’s Program Manager, the RNN will support management of medically complex cases (e.g., CABG and major bowel), representing a meaningful subset of total volume that require enhanced clinical navigation support. This role also supports a team-based model and improves efficiency, complementarity, and coordination across PTN and APP roles. The RNN panel and workflow is based on patient risk, complexity, and clinical need. The PHSO, with stakeholders across Mass General Brigham, is developing standard, patient-centered episodic operational pathways and workflows to support care delivery and outcomes. Program development is informed by evidence-based learnings and best practices. Program goals include mitigation of risk, patient optimization, reduced length of stay as appropriate throughout the pathway, continuity of care, and positive long-term health outcomes.

Requirements

BSN required.
5+ years of experience in an acute care setting and/or provider practice and/or experience in a community-based role or with discharge/transitional planning background
Registered Nurse (RN) licensure in Massachusetts (may request application for licensure in other adjacent states depending on program volume; program will cover these costs)
Strong clinical assessment and care coordination skills required
BLS required (or secured within the first 3 months of employment)

Nice To Haves

Experience with geriatric patient population strongly preferred
Epic experience strongly preferred
Experience in perioperative care, ambulatory care management, or complex patient navigation preferred

Responsibilities

Management of high-risk and medically complex patients across pre-operative and post-discharge phases
Pre-operative clinical assessments, functional and social evaluation of patients
Perform medication reconciliation as part of pre-operative optimization
Risk identification requiring escalation or intervention
Pre-operative clinical, functional, and social assessment utilizing Risk Assessment and Prediction Tool (RAPT) and FRAIL Assessments, and may include other tools as determined appropriate
Collaboration with Coordinators, PTNs, APPs, physician offices (surgeons, specialists, PCPs), inpatient care teams to ensure coordinated episode management
Support post-discharge follow-up, anticipatory guidance, patient education, and clinical triage for complex cases.
Projection of expected hospital course for identified surgical patients, including identification of possible barriers to timely/efficient discharge and/or discharge destination
Communication across internal and external providers, inpatient teams, and post-acute services
Participation in quality/process improvement and program development initiatives
Liaising with physician offices, inpatient healthcare team, and external agencies
Communicate test results and coordinate necessary testing, and track completion of pending optimization items.
Maintenance of all certifications/licensures required to fulfill duties of the position
Identify and anticipate opportunities to improve operational processes and support systems and express a willingness to collaborate with hospital colleagues and outside healthcare resources.
Foster communication between CMS TEAM program staff and other health care team members
Participate in the assessment, development, implementation, and evaluation of quality improvement programs, standards of practice, and policies and procedures.
Other Administrative Duties: as necessitated by program development and at the direction of leadership