Job Summary: The RN Orthopedic Nurse Navigator is responsible for the coordination of care of patients in the healthcare continuum to achieve optimal clinical, financial, operational, and satisfaction outcomes. Collaborates with the clinical team to advocate for, supervise, and support patients through the entire episode of care to promote better outcomes and prevent unnecessary readmissions and complications during the 90-day recovery period. Acts as a liaison between the patient’s family, physicians, nursing, and ancillary services. Coordinates and monitors the provision of hospital services by exercising leadership, creativity, initiative, and cooperative problem solving in the areas of total joint replacement, orthopedic procedures, and policy management. Serves as a resource person that develops, implements, and monitors program initiatives to ensure compliance with local, state, federal and Joint Commission standards. Effectively manages the patient’s transition from the hospital to other settings. This includes working in conjunction with clinics, outpatient physical therapy, home health agencies, and skilled nursing facilities to ensure patients follow a coordinated plan of care.
Hours:
- 1.0 FTE - 40 Hours Per Week
- Monday through Friday - Varied Day Shifts
Essential Job Functions:
- Assist patients in understanding their choice to have a total joint replacement, what to expect from the surgery, and how to prepare.
- Serves as an essential link between patients and all other care providers. This includes assisting with scheduling preadmission testing, all necessary clearances, patient education classes, and other support services.
- Reduces the risk for canceled surgical cases by ensuring the timing of necessary clearances and preadmission testing.
- Assists patients with understanding their insurance coverage as well as the necessary durable medical equipment required for recovery.
- Develops a plan of care for use by the patient and the care team and documents all communication with the patient.
- Champion efforts to increase use of the Fast Track pathway as appropriate for total joint patients.
- Develops and maintains total joint protocols, policies, and procedures in collaboration with the interdisciplinary team using current evidence-based guidelines to ensure positive patient outcomes.
- In collaboration with the healthcare team, designs and produces patient education materials and conducts and supports classes.
- In collaboration with the hospital nurse educator and physician champion of the Total Joint Certification Committee, reviews and revises the class content annually and prn.
- Responsible for outreach efforts to establish and maintain positive working relationships with physicians, office staff, diagnostic staff, and facility team.
- Formulates quarterly program reports and submits to the MEC, Governing Board and Total Joint Committee.
- Manages the total joint population throughout the episode of care.
- Applies process improvement methodologies in evaluating outcomes of care.
- Collaborates with the physician and all members of the multidisciplinary team to facilitate care for designated case load; monitors the patients’ progress, intervening as necessary and appropriate to ensure that the plan of care and services provided are patient focused, high quality, efficient, and cost effective.
- Works with the healthcare team to ensure patient care is individualized based on patient preferences.
- Collects clinical information from the medical record and performs post-discharge follow-up.
- Develop and maintain orthopedic patient data base, Medicare 30 day readmission data base and monitor overall patient, staff, and physician satisfaction
- Serves as the Program Coordinator for the Total Joint Certification Program and leads the Total Joint Certification Meetings
Operational Functions
- Promote the mission, vision, and values of the organization
- Displays honesty and mutual respect when communicating with peers and other departments.
- Maintains positive working relationships and fosters cooperative work environment.
- Stays current on outpatient total joint topics including reimbursement and patient care protocols
- Adheres to departmental goals, objectives, standards of performance, and policies and procedures.
- Follows through on problems that may compromise effective job performance by using appropriate chain of command.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Language Skills:
- Ability to exhibit excellent communication and listening skills.
- Ability to communicate effectively with other members of the staff, physicians, and patients.
- Ability to communicate in English in both written and verbal format.
Qualifications:
• Demonstrates eligibility for employment in the U.S.
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited school in Nursing required.
• Master’s degree from an accredited school in Nursing preferred.
• 5 years of experience as a RN in a hospital or Ambulatory Surgical Center setting required.
• 2 years of total joint replacement or orthopedic nursing experience required.
• Background in regulatory, quality, case management, utilization review is highly desired.
• Knowledge of State, Federal, and Accrediting Body regulations and standards related to healthcare.
• Current state of WI license as a RN.
• BLS required upon hire.
• Exhibits strong communication skills in verbal and written communications for safe and effective patient care.
Benefits:
- Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance
- Health Savings Account with an employer contribution
- Company paid life insurance
- Free meals
- PTO
- 401(k) retirement plan with 4% company match
- Tuition reimbursement
- Wellness reimbursement
