The Nurse Coordinator is a Registered Nurse, reporting to Nursing leadership within the Pediatric Specialty Centers and under the direction and supervision of the Attending Physician for the specific specialty or program. The primary role of the nurse coordinator is to ensure seamless coordination of patient care accross the continuum. This includes clinical practice, care coordination, education, quality improvement, with significant latititude for exercising professional judgement. The Nurse Coordinator is an integral member of the multidisciplinary team providing developmentally appropriate care to patients and families within the specialty service.
EEO/AA/Disability/Veteran.

To be part of our organization, every employee should understand and share in the YNHHS Vision, support our Mission, and live our Values. These values - integrity, patient-centered, respect, accountability, and compassion - must guide what we do, as individuals and professionals, every day.

EEO/AA/Disability/Veteran

1. Professional Practice:
1.1 The Pediatric Nurse Coordinator is the lead member of the health care team coordinating all aspects of patient care for the specific specialty.
1 .2 Initial contact with patient/family includes coordination of specialty office visit appointments , ancillary testing. Includes collaboration with multiple specialists to coordinate initial and follow-up appointments:
1 .3 Researches and coordinates all patient medical history, collaboration with referring providers, and gathering pertinent medical and social information to support the patient referral.
1 .4 Responsible for supporting activities that include but not limited to: Patient telephone calls/triage, medication reconciliation/including refills, prior authorizations from third party carriers, scheduling and resulting diagnostics and labororatory services, referrals to ancillary support services: Nutrition, OT, PT, Social Work, Psychiatry, Child life.
1 .5 Ensures that care is coordinated accross the continuum, includes home environment, homecare services, school, pediatrician, and inpatient setting or other institutions to faciliate seamless patient care delivery.
1 .6 Serves as primary contact, acting as a laisaon between the patient and family and provider, includes communications via telephone, written or electronic. Consults with the provider as needed and follows up with the patient/family.
1 .7 Engages patient and family in preventative care and management or treatment of their acute, chronic, or terminal condition.
1 .8 Provides direct nursing care during the outpatient visit for the specialty, and supports flow and ancillary patient care needs throughout the clinic visit

2. Education

2.1 Provides patient and family education on appropriate medical condition, including signs, symptoms , treatment regimens, side effects, outcomes expected, and potential adverse reactions or outcomes. Including manangement of condition, promoting optimal level of health.

2.2 Participates in enhancing professional development of nursing and support staff and other health care providers/services involved in patient's care. Including new advances in prevention, treatment or management of patient condition.
2 .3 Actively and through established relationships with patients/families provides education and management to promote self-care, decision making and involvement of care by both patient (age appropriate) and family supports as care givers
2 .4 Ensures individual needs are met through focus on preferred language, and that all types of cultural diverse needs are incorporated into the care plans for patients.
2 .5 Initiates education and quality improvement initiatives to advance the quality of care delivery to this patient population
2 .6 Provides patient with educational information and/or refers to appropriate resources, incorporating developmental appropriate materials. Includes written or internet sources.
2 .7 Provides patient and family with support services, networks, and non-profit organizations for support with specialty servcies. Includes emotional and/or spiritual needs.

3. Multi-Disciplinary Collaboration
3.1 Functions as a key member of the multi-disciplinary team coordinating all aspects of patient care across the continuum
3 .2 Participates as an active member, and leads the team as appropriate in all forums discussing patient care: Includes multidisciplinary meetings, discharge rounds, specialty meetings, family-centered rounds or meetings both inpatient and outpatient and in the homecare settings
3 .3 Participates in professional organizations and specialty specific. Maintains up-to-date knowledge of disease/specialty area and incorporates new knowledge, into care delivery models
3 .4 Collaborates with the patient's primary and associate nurses, as well as other members of the health care team regarding current medical plan of care. Attends interdisciplinary meetings, discharge planning rounds, and family meetings as a representative for the service. Functions as a nurse resource to the staff for patients on the service.
3 .5 Facilitates team approach to total plan of care
3. 6 Facilitates, coordinates and ensures that all services necessary are coordinated within organization's different departments, and externally as needed. ie: diagnostics, surgical procedures. laboratory. Includes completion of necessary referral information, pre-admission needs.
3 .7 Ensures patient care needs are met both before, during, or after a clinic visit, or hospital service. Includes assessing and reassessing patient and family needs, concerns, or questions, and supports transition with follow-up or consulting services .
3 .8
Interacts with third party payors, Organizational financial counselors, case managers, federal and state
regulatory staff to ensure patient care delivery.

4. Quality Improvement
4 .1 Participates in data collection related to clinical and operational efficiencies.

4.2 Collects data, and analyzes trends to compare and develop key areas to improve patient care outcomes as evidenced by decreased usage of emergency room visits and inpatient hospital stays or re-admissions for the specialty and patient population
4 .3 Participates in any research clinical trials/protocals as necessary both within organization and nationally to support advances in care.
4 .4 Ensures integration and documentation of all patient care information utilizing electronic medical record and information systems interface
4 .5 Supports any marketing, and community outreach efforts

EDUCATION:
Registered Nurse , Bachelor's Degree in Nursing preferred, Connecticut RN license.

EXPERIENCE:
At least 2-3 years RN experience in an inpatient or outpatient setting required. Relevant experience in the specialty area, pediatrics or in the Nurse Coordinator role preferred.

LICENSURE/CERTIFICATION:
Licensed as a Registered Nurse from the State of Connecticut.

Minimum 3 years of pediatric or outpatient experience . Allergy or coordinatotion experience preferred.