Referral Nurse - Hospice Admissions & Intake in Henderson, Kentucky at St Anthony s Hospice Inc

Position Summary:

The Referral Nurse is responsible for serving as a clinical liaison for patients, families, referral sources and healthcare professionals seeking information regarding hospice and palliative care services offered by St. Anthony’s. This role is responsible for coordinating the referral, intake and admission process for home hospice, general inpatient hospice and palliative care services throughout the St. Anthony’s service area.

The Referral Nurse works to effectively convert referrals into admissions by conducting timely eligibility evaluations, coordinating transitions of care and completing accurate admission assessments. This includes identifying initial physical, psychosocial, medication, durable medical equipment and supply needs to support a safe and appropriate admission to service.

When not committed to scheduled referral or admission visits, the Referral Nurse collaborates with the Director of Marketing & Development and Admissions Coordinator to maintain strong relationships with hospitals, discharge planners, case managers, facilities and other professional referral sources through outreach and communication efforts.

The Referral Nurse must exercise independent judgment and strong organizational skills in managing their weekly schedule and daily responsibilities. Work hours and scheduling may vary based on referral volume, patient needs and operational demands in order to support timely access to care.

Essential Job Functions:

• Establishes positive and professional relationships with patients, caregivers, referral sources, staff members and healthcare professionals.
• Effectively communicates accurate information regarding hospice and palliative care services to patients, caregivers and referral sources.
• Serves as a positive clinical representative of St. Anthony’s Hospice in all interactions with patients, families, facilities and community partners.
• Coordinates and facilitates the referral, intake and admission process in a timely and professional manner.
• Conducts intake and admission visits with patients and caregivers to gather clinical information, determine eligibility and assist in identifying the most appropriate level of care.
• Collaborates with the Referral Specialist, Director of Nursing and other clinical leaders as needed to coordinate admissions and transitions of care.
• Utilizes unscheduled time to maintain communication and outreach efforts with referral sources and community partners.
• Documents all referral activity, phone calls, assessments and patient interactions accurately and timely within the appropriate communication and EMR systems.
• Demonstrates the ability to work independently, prioritize responsibilities and respond appropriately to changing patient and operational needs.
• Maintains confidentiality and complies with all organizational, state, federal and Medicare Hospice Conditions of Participation requirements.
• Performs additional duties as assigned.

Professional Qualifications:

• Graduate of an accredited School of Nursing required.
• Licensed as a Registered Nurse by the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
• Minimum of one year nursing experience required; two years preferred.
• Preference may be given to applicants with hospice, palliative care, oncology, home health, pain management or end-of-life care experience.
• Experience in healthcare outreach, referral coordination or provider relationship development preferred, but not required.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, establish priorities and support organizational goals.
• Strong organizational, interpersonal and communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Ability to navigate sensitive conversations with professionalism, empathy and clinical confidence.
• Must possess the personal qualities of responsibility, dependability, compassion, critical thinking and problem solving.
• Must meet all legal and regulatory requirements of both federal and state governments as well as Medicare Hospice Conditions of Participation.

Physical Qualifications:

• Must be able to frequently operate office equipment including computers, printers, copiers and telephones.
• Must be able to travel between patient homes, healthcare facilities, provider offices and organizational locations throughout the service area.
• Must be able to communicate effectively with employees, patients, families, providers and vendors in person and electronically.
• Must frequently move files, equipment and objects weighing up to 10 pounds.
• Will frequently be exposed to outdoor weather conditions while traveling between locations.