RN - Clinical Triage

Cape Cod Healthcare•Barnstable, MA

About The Position

This role involves monitoring the Electronic Health Record nurse pool, triaging incoming patient communications (calls, messages, In-Basket tasks), and prioritizing urgent matters. The RN will use nursing judgment and triage guidelines to assess patient needs, schedule appointments, and ensure patients are transitioned to the appropriate level of care. Responsibilities include collecting patient data, documenting encounters, educating patients on community services, and collaborating with the interdisciplinary care team. The role also involves direct patient care activities such as taking vital signs, assisting clinicians with procedures, performing medication reconciliation, and verifying clinician orders. Clerical and office support tasks, including scheduling and patient registration, may also be required. The RN may be asked to float to other practices and must maintain patient confidentiality.

Requirements

Ability to read, write and communicate in English
Graduate of an accredited school of nursing
Currently licensed as a Registered Nurse in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Basic Life Support Certification for Health Care Providers
Experience with current office technology and proficient with computer office applications (Electronic Medical/Health Records, MS Office, etc.)

Nice To Haves

Minimum of two years’ experience in a clinical setting preferred

Responsibilities

Monitor the Electronic Health Record nurse pool throughout the day and respond in a timely manner.
Triage incoming calls, messages, and In-Basket tasks, prioritizing urgent matters and scheduling appointments as needed.
Exercise thinking, nursing judgment, and standard triage guidelines to ensure health needs and concerns of a patient, group, or population are met.
Assess complex patient needs to ensure patient is transitioned to appropriate level of care.
Demonstrate a systematic, dynamic approach to collect objective and subjective data and assess the response.
Triage and schedule visits based on assessment of patient disposition needs and consideration of available and appropriate resources; refer for emergency and follow up care.
Provide clinical support to the team, adjusting role and priorities to meet patient care demands.
Answer phone calls and electronic messages promptly.
Greet callers appropriately by identifying self and department, and provide assistance in a friendly, respectful, and helpful manner.
Provide timely, efficient, and accurate triage responses in accordance with professional nursing standards.
Document all calls, encounters, and actions taken into the patient’s medical record timely and completely according to established policy and professional standards.
Educate patients about utilization of the clinics’ community services.
Collaborate with the interdisciplinary care team as needed to avoid interruption of delivery of services to patients.
Perform other work-related duties and activities as assigned or requested.
Greet and escort patients to exam rooms.
Obtain relevant information and take vital signs as indicated (i.e. height, weight, blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation).
Input pertinent clinical information into the electronic health record timely and with accuracy and perform a complete medication reconciliation.
Assist clinicians with clinical procedures and/or additional tests specific to the department. May advise patient of preparation required for exam or additional testing and keep patients informed of visit status, unforeseen delays and other relevant information pertaining to the patient’s visit.
Assist in resolving patient concerns by acting as an advocate, as appropriate.
Participate in practice and department meetings, trainings, etc. to promote continuous improvement and quality patient care.
Take initiative to learn, understand, and stay current with community resources and the greater healthcare system while continuously participating in self-assessment of skills.
Maintain patient rights and abide by all confidentiality obligations pursuant to CCHC and HIPAA.
Provide clerical/office support as necessary (i.e. scheduling appointments, greeting and registering patients, scanning incoming medical records and paperwork, preparing medical records, answering phone calls and taking messages, faxing, etc.).
Float to other MACC practices when required.
Verify and implement clinician’s orders for testing and/or procedures (EKG’s, dressing changes, spirometry, Holter monitors, etc.).
Triage walk-in patients per established protocols.
Maintain communication and collaboration with interprofessional team and others to facilitate safe transitions and continuity of care delivery.