Hospice Liaison Nurse

Education

Diploma, ADN, and/or BSN from an accredited institution

Experience

Minimum of three (3) years' experience required with hospice, home health, critical care, ER, oncology medical/surgical experience, community outreach or pastoral counseling

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Ability to market to and deal tactfully with customers (e.g. physicians, social workers, nurses, etc.), other possible referral sources, and the community.
• Excellent professional communication, negotiation, presentation and public relations skills.
• Ability to facilitate hospice liaison work in any hospital setting, including Mobile Hospice, within Gilchrist service area.
• Knowledge of the practice of infectious disease precautions, universal precautions and employ safe practices for self-protection.
• Ability to coordinate with multiple departments including admissions, IPU staff, hospital staff and hospice physicians.
• Self-directed with the ability to work with little supervision in a rapidly changing environment.
• Flexibility in scheduling and ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Strong clinical or psychosocial assessment and documentation skills.
• Strong computer skills include e-mail, EMR, Word and PowerPoint applications

Licensures, Certifications

• Must possess current Maryland State license as a Registered Nurse
• Valid driver's license and safe driving record and an automobile that is insured in accordance with GHC requirements

Physical Requirements

• Able to provide patient care or assistance that involves lifting, repositioning, moving patients and includes bending, reaching, and twisting.
• Ability to travel to patient locations include ability to drive, negotiate stairs and walkways, including uneven surfaces at private homes or facilities.
• Sufficient dexterity to utilize electronic record keeping systems, computers/keyboards and or laptops and other related equipment.
• Vision ability to assess patient's health status using visual inspection and observation and to read medications, charts, calibration and monitoring devices as appropriate.
• Speech to verbally communicate to assess and impart information concerning patient status; to effectively complete patient/family teaching and to interact with internal and external health care teams.

Working Conditions

• Predominantly a hospital-based environment which may include driving as needed to other area hospitals, skilled/assisted nursing facilities, and patient homes.
• Exposed to adverse working conditions due to performance of patient care activities and exposure to communicable diseases

Conditions of Employment

• Valid driver's license and automobile insurance

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

Account Management Responsibilities

• Actively develops and fosters area hospital referral source acceptance and allegiance to GHC. * Effectively implements strategies and tactics to increase admissions from referral sources. *
• Maintains awareness of changing medical environment and industry competition.
• Represents GHC with professionalism at all times & responds in a timely manner to referral source questions or requests for presentations.
• Maintains current knowledge of each facility's discharge planning process and builds relationships with key institutional referral sources.
• Professionally and compassionately interacts with patients, families, and hospital referral sources to explain end-of-life care services.
• Delivers effective "in-services," "lunch & learns" and other presentations to relevant parties educating the medical community on GHC, end-of-life care, hospice philosophy, and other related topics.
• Maintains current knowledge of Hospice Medicare Benefit and other applicable insurance information and communicates related information when needed.
• Tracks success of liaison efforts, partners with other Admission & Business Development team members to discuss current procedures and suggests improvements and innovative ideas for Admission and Business Development team and specific roles.
• Prepares for and attends required meetings and contributes valuable feedback and relevant suggestions.
• Ensures all HIPAA Privacy and Security Regulations, Medicare Conditions of Participation and all other Joint Commission and other regulatory/compliance requirements are understood and followed.
• Assists with "Share Days" for prospective employees and in orienting new nursing personnel to policies, procedures and practices of GHC and the Hospice Liaison Nurse role.
• Performing job functions in a fiscally responsible manner consistent with GHC policies, mission and vision.

Liaison Direct Patient Care Services

• Performs eligibility and clinical assessment visits for patients and coordinates transition of patients to GHC service for their assigned hospital patients.
• Discuss clinical findings with hospital representatives when required.
• Explains GHC services to patients and families in situation-appropriate manner resulting in the admission of appropriate patients and positive impression of GHC.

• Completes timely electronic documentation of any eligibility visits and/or admissions performed and uses electronic medical record (EMR) systems effectively and efficiently to complete required documentation in a variety of patient care settings.

• Oversee pending patients (referrals) and partners with Hospice Admission RNs and other Admission team members in admission process.
• Prioritizes urgency of visits & duties when multiple referral sources require GHC services or information, as directed by GHC policies/procedures.
• Keeps all referral sources updated on the status of all patient care interactions, including on-going status reports for patients admitted to services, including death notifications.
• A willingness to perform the duties of an admissions nurse at homes and facilities when needed (e.g. holidays).
• Provides assessment of patients at time of referral and refers to appropriate level of care
• If patient will be enrolled to a Mobile Response hospice bed for GIP care, completes admission process.
• Directs quality nursing care for patients with life limiting illness in conjunction with the AOHR and hospital team, to maintain the highest level of care for the patient and family.
• Participates with the hospice AOHR and hospital staff in the development of a coordinated plan of care
• Consults with the hospice AOHR, as needed.
• Evaluates interventions with the patient and family and modifies the plan of care with the AOHR accordingly
• Provides patient, family and hospital nursing staff with education and support to maintain the highest level of quality care at the end of life
• Documents on appropriate charts and forms in an accurate and timely manner to document course of care
• Accurately documents daily acuity assessment of all patients
• Attends to patient and family at the time of death

• Other duties as reasonably required.

All roles must demonstrate GBMC Values

Respect

I will treat everyone with courtesy. I will foster a healing environment.

• Treats others with fairness, kindness, and respect for personal dignity and privacy

• Listens and responds appropriately to others' needs, feelings, and capabilities

Excellence

I will strive for superior performance in every aspect of my work. I will recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of others.

• Meets and/or exceeds customer expectations
• Actively pursues learning and self-development
• Pays attention to detail; follows through

Accountability

I will be professional in the way I act, look and speak. I will take ownership to solve problems.

• Sets a positive, professional example for others
• Takes ownership of problems and does what is needed to solve them
• Appropriately plans and utilizes required resources for various job duties
• Reports to work regularly and on time

Teamwork

I will be engaged and collaborative. I will keep people informed.

• Works cooperatively and collaboratively with others for the success of the team
• Addresses and resolves conflict in a positive way
• Seeks out the ideas of others to reach the best solutions
• Acknowledges and celebrates the contribution of others

Ethical Behavior

I will always act with honesty and integrity. I will protect the patient.

• Demonstrates honesty, integrity and good judgment
• Respects the cultural, psychosocial, and spiritual needs of patients/families/coworkers

Results

I will set goals and measure outcomes that support organizational goals. I will give and accept help to achieve goals.

• Embraces change and improvement in the work environment
• Continuously seeks to improve the quality of products/services
• Displays flexibility in dealing with new situations or obstacles
• Achieves results on time by focusing on priorities and manages time efficiently

Pay Range

Final salary offer will be based on the candidate's qualifications, education, experience and alignment with our organizational needs.

Equal Employment Opportunity

GBMC HealthCare and its affiliates are Equal Opportunity employers. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, national origin, mental or physical disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local law.