Palliative Nurse Liaison

Summary

The Nurse Liaison is responsible for ensuring that the palliative medicine needs for patients are met. While the Nurse Liaison role is primarily patient focused there are secondary responsibilities of community education and customer service. By developing strong positive relationships with the communities, the Nurse Liaison enhances the image and acceptance of both the palliative medicine team and VIA Health Partners. The Nurse Liaison works closely with other members of the VIA team including the Strategic Accounts Manager and the AVP (when appropriate) to provide consistent communication and high-quality customer service. If/when a patient is appropriate for hospice; the Nurse Liaison assists the admission team to ensure a smooth transition.

Essential Functions

Patient Focused

• Reviews available medical records for all new Palliative Medicine referrals.

• Manages high and medium acuity patient contacts per acuity scale recommendations. As well as low acuity that are in long term care communities.

• Documents visits, contacts, and communication in electronic medical records.

• Serves as the point-of-contact for palliative medicine patients, their families, healthcare providers, and the long-term care communities.

• Facilitates transitions to hospice that are seamless for the referral source, patient, and family.

• Collaborates with NP to manage scheduling of visits in all settings.

• Provides education to patients and families about disease processes, symptom management, and advance care directives. LPN Liaisons will provide teaching as directed by NP or RN.

• Collaborates with the NP to monitor efficacy of interventions related to palliative care needs. LPN Liaisons will collect and report a focused appraisal of the patient’s health status.

• Uses electronic medical record and standard office software to manage patient data and communication between staff and healthcare providers.

• Collaborates with other PM team members to effectively balance workload of referrals and patient census.

Community Education

• Coordinates with the Strategic Account Manager to provide education to long-term care community staff, referral sources, and families about hospice and palliative medicine, disease process and advance care directives.

• Provides impromptu community staff education on palliative care topics when the opportunity arises.

Customer Service

• Collaborates with VIA administrative staff, Referral Center staff and community staff to maintain a seamless referral process.

• Maintains a collaborative relationship with VIA and with key community staff members to promote business development.

• Assists in performing service recovery when community expectations are not met.

• Communicates with the Strategic Account Manager and the AVP to keep them abreast of any changes in the communities.

• Participates in VIA sponsored community appreciation functions, when possible.

Other

• Assists in the development of policies and procedures utilizing own clinical expertise.

• Provides education to VIA staff on palliative medicine topics.

• May perform other duties as required

Qualifications

Qualification Requirements

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Minimum Qualifications

• A Diploma or associate degree in nursing is required; Bachelor’s Degree preferred.

• A current, active, and unrestricted compact (multistate) license as a Registered Nurse (RN) or Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) is required.

• The Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) allows a registered nurse (RN) and licensed practical/vocational nurse (LPN/LVN) to have one multistate license in a primary state of residency (the home state) and to practice in other compact states (remote states), while subject to each state’s practice laws and discipline.

• Current CPR required; CHPN preferred.

• Minimum 2 years related experience. Experience in direct care of patients with life limiting illnesses required.  Related experience may include hospice and palliative care; family medicine; internal medicine; geriatrics, oncology; home health care; medical surgical.

• Ability to perform nursing assessments required.

• Computer proficiency is required

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (both written and verbal). Strong problem solving and critical thinking skills. Well organized, self-directed, and able to manage time. Flexible, innovative, resourceful, and creative.

• Ability to interact with patients and family members in varying psychosocial circumstances complicated by the presence of terminal illness. Ability to be diplomatic yet assertive.

• Knowledge of nursing principles, practices, and policies, and sound clinical skills. Understanding of hospice and/or home healthcare policies, and procedures. Strong belief in hospice mission.

• Excellent ability to work within a team. Excellent ability to coordinate and foster multi-disciplinary care.

• Reasoning Ability: Ability to deal with a variety of variables. Able to interpret various instructions.