Primary Responsibilities:
1. Promotes Community Hospice as the preferred provider of hospice care in our service area.
2. Ability to “sell” the benefits of hospice care and resolve patient/family objections.
3. Provides information about Community Hospice services and philosophy to patients, caregivers, physicians, and other community referral sources.
4. Ability to implement Medicare Local Coverage Determination to assess patients for Hospice eligibility.
5. Collects and communicates appropriate information to/from admission physician to determine hospice eligibility.
6. Collects and communicates appropriate information from referring and consulting physicians to help determine hospice eligibility.
7. Performs an initial physical assessment, identifies immediate needs, to include spiritual, functional, psychosocial and financial needs.
8. Applies appropriate nursing interventions and documents concisely in electronic medical record.
9. Facilitates admission to Community Hospice.
10. Provides emotional support to patients and families/caregivers with compassion and empathy.
11. Maintains the confidentiality of patients and families in compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Assess for patient risk and safety issues per Community Hospice policies.
12. Develops patient’s initial plan of care based on identified immediate needs. Obtains and communicates physician orders for medications, DME and special treatments to the care team and in the electronic medical record.
13. Demonstrates knowledge of medications appropriate for end of life care, side effects and adverse interactions.
14. Assess, communicate and obtain orders from Community Hospice physicians to ensure patient comfort.
15. Arranges, coordinates, and supports needed change in level of patient care.
16. Facilitates transfers from one level of care to the next based on Medicare Conditions of Participation.
17. Complies with appropriate professional code of ethics in delivering services to patients and families
18. Professional development of self towards resource for end of life care, with knowledge, understanding and ability to communicate Medicare Conditions of Participation, Local Coverage Determination, State of Florida Regulations and specific insurance benefits.
19. Provides patients and/or family, Admissions Staff, and Community Partners consultation and information regarding Health Care Surrogate, Health Care Proxy and other Advance Directives.
20. Responsible for education and mentoring of new staff members.
21. Builds, develops and maintains relationships with referring physicians, area social workers, discharge planners and community agency staff in order to network and facilitate admission and placement of patients.
22. Educates medical community on what are hospice appropriate referrals
23. Educates medical community on the patient/family benefits of early referrals
24. Cultivates, develops and enhances existing relationships with physicians, hospital, nursing homes and assisted living facilities
25. Assists in providing in-service programs or public relations activities.
26. Represents Community Hospice professionally at all times through care and/or services provided to all clients
27. Complies with Community Hospice policies, procedures and standard practices.
28. Uses resources in a fiscally responsible manner
29. Demonstrates awareness of and abides by universal precautions
30. Promotes Community Hospice through participation in community and professional organizations
31. Seeks opportunities to improve one’s own professional knowledge and skill level
32. All other duties as assigned.
Required Licenses/Certifications:
33. Current licensure as a registered nurse in the state of Florida.
34. Current CPR certification.
35. Current State of Florida driver’s license with driving record acceptable to Community Hospice insurance carrier; reliable transportation.
Education/Experience:
Any combination of education and experience that would provide required skills and knowledge for successful performance would be acceptable.Typical qualifications would be equivalent to:
36. Possession of a degree from a diploma nursing program and/or two (2) year program or Bachelor’s degree in nursing from an accredited school of nursing.
37. Minimum of two years’ experience in hospital or LTC setting preferred.
General Knowledge of:
38. Hospice services, philosophy and admission procedures
39. Advance Directives pursuant to State Regulations
40. The Medicaid application process
41. Community Resources
42. Referral and placement protocols for Independent, Assisted and Long Term Care Facilities
43. Pain and symptom control
44. Principles of customer service