Hospital & Patient Services Specialist

• Position will be on-site at Cone Alamance Regional Hospital.
• Schedule is Monday-Friday 8am-4:30pm.

PURPOSE AND SCOPE:

Utilizes knowledge of dialysis admissions processes within a defined market to assess and facilitate the transition of hospital in-patient dialysis patients into an outpatient end stage renal disease (ESRD) facility. Contributes to a decreased length and number of hospital stays by applying knowledge of ESRD locations and their specific admissions protocols to ensure the provision of the appropriate discharge placement services of ESRD patients. Per the specific contract with the hospital, this may include assessing patient need for other outpatient services and collaborating with service providers and practitioners for provision of the services. Maintains communication with Pre-ESRD and ESRD (collectively renal) patients, physicians treating those patients (e.g. nephrologists, hospitalists, intensivists, et. al), discharge planners, hospital staff, community resources, educational professionals, etc. to ensure service satisfaction. Develops and maintains data for metric/performance reporting to the hospitals serviced and FMS Management. Position is primarily based in a hospital, hospital system, or group of unaffiliated hospitals. 

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Under general supervision, leverages knowledge of outpatient dialysis services provided by renal providers in the market area (both Fresenius and non-Fresenius providers) and other local outpatient service providers to advise and assist hospitalized renal patients, hospital staff and discharge planners to identify, organize and coordinate the various providers and services to meet the needs of the renal patient and the hospital services contract.
• Facilitates the placement of in-patient dialysis patients into the out-patient setting by:
• Using knowledge regarding the dialysis facilities and modalities offered within the assigned market, and whether there are options such as rehab or nursing homes with dialysis services on location, or home therapy programs available, to provide patient with choices/recommendations.
• Coordinating with the patient and discharge planners to identify appropriate placement for outpatient services according to individual patient preferences, physician orders; vacancy rates and capacity of outpatient dialysis facilities within the market.
• Working closely with appropriate hospital staff/partners and contractors to ensure hospital directives; patient requests; and physician orders are addressed appropriately.
• Collaborating with outpatient dialysis staff and hospital staff/partners and contractors to resolve issues relating to the placement of patients into the outpatient setting.
• Focuses on decreasing the length and number of hospital stays by assessing the outpatient needs of the patient and assisting with the outpatient placement of renal patients into ESRD facilities.  The actual format and type of assistance is generally defined in the hospital contract and may include:
• Determining the type of placement needed by the patient - such as determining whether the patient requires/request in-center, nocturnal, or home dialysis.
• Establishing whether there is a need for a vascular access assessment and placement.
• Intervening early into the hospital admission process to identify whether a patient may need a permanent nephrologist and if they do, to arrange nephrology consult and the needed services to discharge to dialysis vs. after dialysis thus contributing to a decrease length of stay.
• Assesses the needs of the hospital for other outpatient services responding to related questions and making suggestions as to how Fresenius can address these needs.  Facilitates and coordinates the provision of these other renal services for pre-ESRD and ESRD patients collaborating with the appropriate clinicians to provides services such as: renal education; therapy selection education; access selection education; distribution of area nephrologists or vascular access surgeon listings; insurance and financial education, etc. Assesses related customer service issues and complaints regarding service levels reported by the hospital.  Initiates and coordinates the appropriate interventions and a