Patient Flow Coordinator

VCU Health; Richmond (VA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 86,000; Full time

Job summary

VCU Health is seeking a Patient Flow Coordinator to optimize hospital-wide patient placement, bed management, and transfers across affiliated facilities. You will work with physicians, nurse managers, and transport teams to ensure timely care and smooth patient transitions.

The role requires RN licensure in Virginia or a compact state, a nursing diploma/ASN, and a plan to pursue a BSN if not already held. Expect shift variations and a demanding, fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Diploma or Associate Degree in Nursing from an approved program.
• If no BSN, must enroll in RN to BSN within 2 years and complete within 5 years.
• Current RN licensure in Virginia or eligible compact.
• BLS certification.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate patient flow across hospitals to ensure timely bed placement and transfers.
• Serve as clinical and administrative resource for complex patient care and bed assignments.
• Collaborate with physicians, nurse managers, charge nurses, and transport teams to optimize bed management.
• Coordinate and triage transfer referrals and inbound/outbound transfers with Lifecom and bed management.
• Support psych intake referrals in partnership with psychiatric admissions.
• Manage One Call Center communications and multi-function tasks in patient flow processes.
• Assist admission physicians in selecting appropriate level of care based on criteria and patient age.

Skills

Clinical triage experience

Leadership experience

Problem solving

Ability to handle high stress

Education

Diploma or Associate Degree in Nursing

RN to BSN bridge enrollment within two years

Job description

The Patient Flow Coordinator is responsible for the efficient, timely coordination of health care services provided to numerous patient populations within VCUHS and the community. The Patient Flow Coordinator supports and coordinates all patient placement activities and bilateral transfer coordination for all VCU affiliated hospitals and the community through the One Call Center and helps to support coordination of psych intake with the psych admissions representatives. The Patient Flow Coordinator consistently anticipates and critically thinks through problems/potential issues and take initiatives to resolve with minimal direction. The Patient Flow Coordinator adheres to department policies and procedures and monitors compliance of the policies and procedures governing patient placement, EMTALA regulations, and registration procedures.

Essential Functions:

Coordinates patient flow throughout each hospital based upon the clinical status of the patient, including patient triage, bed placement, and various transfer functions, in a timely and orderly manner to provide optimal level of care for all VCU affiliated hospital patients.

Serves as a clinical resource for complex and difficult patient care situations as well as an administrative resource for complex bed assignments.

Works with physicians, Nurse Managers, Clinical Coordinators, charge nurses, EVS, patient transportation, the Bed Management Specialist, and epidemiology to identify proactive strategies to address patient flow barriers.

Coordinates and triages appropriate acceptance for all transfer referrals into VCUMC and facilitating bed placement by collaborating with Bed Management.

Coordinates and triages outbound transfer referrals from all VCUHS affiliated hospitals including coordination of acceptance and transportation in partnership with the Lifecom.

Supports in the management of psych intake referrals in partnership with the psychiatric admission representatives.

Management of all in- and outbound calls supported by One Call Center agents

Facilitates, coordinates and completes multi-function tasks for patient flow processes, transfers and transports to ensure continuity of care for VCUHS and the communities served.

Assists the admission physicians in identifying an appropriate level of care for the patient based on admission criteria, understanding age-specific requirements and unit-based nursing competencies, when assessing the recommending bed placement.

Utilizes established criteria and clinical practice guidelines to monitor the delivery of healthcare services and facilitates concurrent intervention when variances in bed management are identified.

Additional position requirements such as shift rotations, weekends, environment, etc.:

• This position works thirty-six (36) hours per week to include all shift rotations, to include some weekend & holiday hours, in the form of three (3) twelve (12) hour shifts.
• Individual shift rotation and schedules are established by your department’s Nurse Manager
• Schedules, including shift rotation requirements and hours of work, may be adjusted to meet department needs.

Patient Population:

Demonstrates the knowledge and skills necessary to provide equitable care appropriate to the age of the patients served on their assigned unit.

Demonstrates knowledge and related competencies of the principles of growth and development of the life span and possesses the ability to assess data reflective of the patient’s status and interprets the appropriate information needed to identify each patient’s requirements relative to their age, specific needs and to provide the equitable care needed as described in departmental policies and procedures.

Neonates (0-4 weeks), Infant (1-12 months), Pediatrics (1-12 years), Adolescents (13-17 years), Adolescents (13-17 years), Adults (18-64 years), Geriatrics (65 years and older)

Employment Qualifications:

Required Education:

Diploma or Associates Degree from a professional nursing program recognized and/or approved by the corresponding state’s Board of Nursing.
All Patient Flow Coordinators without a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing (or higher) will be required to enroll in an approved RN to BSN program within two years of their start date and to complete the program within five years of their start date.

Preferred Education:
Master’s Degree in Nursing or related field

Licensure/Certification Required:

Current RN licensure in Virginia or eligible compact

BLS certification

Licensure/Certification Preferred: N/A

Minimum Qualifications:

Required Qualifications: Three (3) years clinical experience in an acute care setting

Other Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required:

Employee must complete 15 contact hours of Continuing Nursing Education during this evaluation cycle. Failure to achieve the required number of contact hours will result in the employee being ineligible to receive an overall performance rating above “Fully Meets”.

Cultural Responsiveness:
Demonstrates a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion through continuous development, modeling inclusive behaviors, and proactively managing bias.

Other Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Preferred:

Five (5) years of clinical experience in an acute care setting

Two (2) years leadership experience to include, but not limited to, precepting, charge nurse experience, leading projects/initiatives

Clinical triage experience

ICU, Operating Room/PACU, or ED experience

Working Conditions:

Periods of high stress and fluctuating workloads may occur.

General office environment.

May have periods of constant interruptions

Physical Requirements:

Physical Demands: Lifting/ Carrying (0-50 lbs), Push/Pull (0-50 lbs.)

Work Position: Sitting, Walking, Standing

Additional Physical Requirements/ Hazards:

Physical Requirements:

Manual dexterity (eye/hand coordination); Perform shift work; Hear alarms/telephone/tape recorder; Repetitive arm/hand movements; Reach above shoulder

Mental/Sensory - Emotional:

Mental/Sensory: Strong Recall, Reasoning, Problem solving, Hearing, Speak clearly, Write legibly, Reading, Logical Thinking

Emotional: Fast-paced environment, Able to handle multiple priorities, Frequent and intense customer interactions, Noisy environment, Able to adapt to frequent change

EEO Employer/Disabled/Protected Veteran