Rehab Liaison

UAB St. Vincent's•Birmingham, AL

24d•Onsite

About The Position

The Rehab Liaison for UAB St. Vincent’s Inpatient Rehabilitation Center is responsible for managing all incoming referrals, completing timely and accurate Pre-Admission Screens (PAS), and collaborating with rehabilitation physicians and interdisciplinary team members to determine patient eligibility based on CMS criteria. This role serves as a liaison to patients, families, and referral sources, providing education on diagnoses, admission requirements, and expectations for participation in the rehabilitation process. The clinician facilitates smooth transitions to inpatient rehab, communicates admission decisions, and recommends alternative levels of care when appropriate. Additional responsibilities include supporting marketing and customer satisfaction initiatives, maintaining strong professional relationships with referral partners, and assisting with regulatory compliance and community education related to inpatient rehabilitation services. Candidates must hold an associate or bachelor's degree in nursing or an allied health field, possess two years of rehabilitation experience, and be licensed or eligible for licensure in Alabama as an RN or applicable therapy discipline, with current CPR certification required

Requirements

Currently licensed or eligible to be licensed as a Registered Nurse (RN) by the Alabama Board of Nursing or currently licensed or eligible to be licensed as a Speech-Language Pathologist, Occupational Therapist/Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant, Physical Therapist/Physical Therapist Assistant, or Licensed Clinical Social Worker by the appropriate State of Alabama Board.
Currently certified with Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) required.
Associate or bachelor's degree in nursing or an Allied Health field and two (2) years of related experience in a rehabilitation environment required. Work experience may NOT substitute for education requirement.

Responsibilities

To respond to referrals made to UAB St Vincent's Rehabilitation Center promoting patient and referral source satisfaction.
To complete the Pre-Admission Screen (PAS), collaborate with other rehab team members (MD, etc) and assist with final decision to admit based on CMS regulations.
To educate patients and their families regarding admission criteria, their diagnosis and responsibilities to participate in family education and training. To assist with marketing efforts.
Reviews the medical record and conducts Pre-Admission Screen (PAS) on potential UAB St. Vincent's Inpatient Rehab candidates. Once deemed appropriate, inpatient candidates then entered into electronic medical record within 24 hours of referral. Makes recommendations to admit or not admit based on assessment as to patient's meeting CMS requirements. Serves as liaison with referring physician, patient, and family as well as discharge planner. Obtains the attending physician's signature on the PAS. Facilitates expeditious transfer of appropriate candidates to inpatient programs. Informs referral source, patient, and family as to next steps in the admission process.
In consultation with the rehab attending physician, assists with determination of final approval to admit. Informs the referring physician of admission approval/non-approval and, if applicable, reason(s) for non-approval to admit. Provides recommendation to most appropriate level of care in cases where inpatient rehab facility (IRF) criteria are not met.
Educates patient and family as to criteria required for eligibility for inpatient rehabilitation services, as well as services offered in the inpatient rehabilitation setting. Informs patient and family of level of family involvement expected in the inpatient setting, as well as personal items that should be brought with them to inpatient rehab.
Assists with marketing and customer satisfaction initiatives. Understands and can explain all UAB St. Vincent's Inpatient Rehab programs to referral sources. Develops, builds, and maintains professional relationships with current and potential referral sources. Promotes UAB St. Vincent's Inpatient Rehab to referral sources to increase probability that we will be the preferred choice to serve other patient's specialized needs. Exhibits ability to communicate professionally both over the phone and in-person.
Manages internal and external referral candidates until acute hospital discharge.
Assists with regulatory compliance for hospital including The Joint Commission, CMS, and State.
Provides education to physicians, case managers, social workers, and other members of the interdisciplinary team on the definitions of correct level of post-discharge care.
Provides community education by speaking to professional community about inpatient rehab facility (IRF) criteria and types of diagnoses served.
Performs other duties as assigned.