Referral/Intake RN

 Job Description Summary

The Referral/Intake Nurse is responsible for the initiation, screening and triage of all referrals for Yakima County. This position is responsible for maintaining relationships with referral sources. Additionally, the Referral/Intake Nurse is responsible for the education of referral sources as to types of patients served and eligibility requirements for service. 

Essential Job Functions/Responsibilities

1. Receives and documents hospice and palliative care referrals called or faxed to the department from all outside sources, including hospitals, clinics, other facilities or families.
2. Assesses clinical needs of patients interpreting and utilizing data obtained from referral sources and medical records as available.
3. Determines patient eligibility for hospice or palliative care services as measured against program criteria.
4. Verifies skilled care orders with physicians as needed, obtains history and physical from physician as needed.
5. Obtains insurance information from referral source and forwards information to insurance verifier.
6. Ensures compliance with all state, federal, and Accrediting Body referral/intake regulatory requirements.
   
7. Establishes and maintains positive working relationships with current and potential referral sources.
   
8. Builds and monitors community and customer perceptions of Heartlinks as a high-quality provider of services.
9. Gathers, collates, and reports referral statistics including key customer referral trends.
   
10. Maintains a comprehensive working knowledge of Heartlinks contractual relationships and ensures that patients are admitted according to contract provisions.
11. Participates in quality assessment performance improvement teams and activities.
12. Maintains a comprehensive working knowledge of community resources and assists referral sources in accessing community resources should services not be provided by Heartlinks
    

The above statements are intended to be a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by incumbents of this job. The incumbents may be requested to perform job-related tasks other than those stated in this description.

Position Qualifications

1. RN or LPN with current licensure to practice professional nursing in the state of Washington.
2. Bachelor’s degree in Nursing from an accredited program. Master’s degree in health care preferred.
3. At least two years of nursing experience required, preferably in hospice care.
   
4. Ability to market aggressively and deal tactfully with customers and the community.
5. Knowledge of corporate business management, governmental regulations, Accrediting Body standards, and private payer practices.
6. Demonstrates good communications, negotiation, and public relations skills.
7. Demonstrates autonomy, organization, assertiveness, flexibility and cooperation in performing job responsibilities.

Benefits

• Full time employees accrue up to 168 hours of PTO annually, in addition to accruing sick time at the rate of 1 hour for every 40 hours worked. Bereavement and jury duty leave also available. 
• Option to enroll in medical, dental, vision, and life insurance. Heartlinks pays for 100% of the employee's medical premiums, and 75% of the employee's dental and vision premium. Health benefits begin the first of the month after start date. 
• Miles driven for work are reimbursed at 62.5 cents per mile.
• Holiday pay for 6 observed holidays.
• Ability to enroll in 401(k) and begin contributing at time of hire. Heartlinks will match dollar for dollar up to 5% of earnings after one year of employment and 1080 hours worked. 
• Tuition reimbursement/professional development assistance.
• Premium pay for hospice related certifications.
• Hourly wage dependent on hospice and supervisory experience.