Nurse Admissions Coordinator

Responsible to build and grow census/quality mix by developing the market and providing prospective residents and/or responsible parties with information and assistance that is appropriate when considering the selection of a skilled nursing facility. The Admission Coordinator spends his/her time engaged in revenue-generating activities: census/mix management (including internal conversions), inquiry management, external sales calls, lead-base calls to build long-term custodial census, and community education. Also, the Admission Coordinator spends time engaged in non-revenue generating activities: customer service/satisfaction, public relations, administrative tasks and other duties as assigned. Maintains a strong professional relationship with the Chief Executive Officer and other facility department heads and managers.

Essential Functions

• Fulfills a proactive, take-charge role in the facility’s stand up meetings. Communicates weekly with the Chief Executive Officer and other department heads to resolve admission issues, including ongoing meetings with the Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) to discuss clinical service issues.
• Conducts routine physical environment rounds with the CEO and select department heads (Housekeeping, Facilities, etc.) to evaluate and resolve facility presentation issues.
• Conduct tours for prospective customers interested in the facility’s skilled nursing care services.
• Ensures room readiness for new residents.
• Works with the Social Worker to ensure that internal conversions of patients from short-term rehab to long-term care take place when appropriate. Alerts department heads/facility staff of projected room changes – admissions, discharges, patient transfers – at the daily stand up meeting.
• Leads the bed management process. Works with the CNO and the Business Office Manager (BOM) to ensure appropriate and efficient decisions are made regarding prospective admissions. Makes recommendation re: admission decisions to appropriate facility management and communicates these decisions regarding room and bed selection to all relevant parties.
• Models exemplary customer service to all constituencies at all times. Establishes realistic expectations for service levels with residents, families and referral sources. Responsible for communicating Customer Service Satisfaction Survey results to other staff and developing plans to improve service delivery in specific areas. Trains facility staff on basic customer service and satisfaction principles. Communicates customer objectives and expectations with center department heads and staff. Monitors and evaluates customer satisfaction of various constituents, including new admissions, post-discharges, current residents and families, community sources and inquiries that were unable to admit. Shares results with the management team, QAPI committee, and others as appropriate to develop action plans, as needed.
• Responds promptly to inquiry calls from hospital discharge planners or Clinical Liaisons, families and other referral sources. Manages the inquiry process in a professional and timely manner, with appropriate follow-up. Conducts daily follow-up on all active and pending inquiries. Manages the admission process by maintaining updated bed availability and facility services information at all times. Trains the back-up team to capably handle an inquiry when he/she is out of the facility. Manages occupancy levels and strives to have census/quality mix consistently at or above budget expectations.
• Conducts post-discharge follow-up with residents and/or family members.
• Develops business relationships with a growing base of referral sources, leading to a consistent flow of quality referrals to the facility and/or collaborates with Clinical Liaisons. Networks effectively with current and past customers to solicit and generate referrals. Maintains a current, prioritized key account list, including a database of key referral metrics for both existing and potential referral sources. Conducts external sales calls to medical community contacts – especially hospital discharge planners, physicians (admitting/ attending), and insurance company case managers. Makes external sales calls to legal and financial professionals, senior organizations, special interest constituents and other community contacts.
• Develops and implements special events and presentations targeted at community education, establishing and maintaining the center’s status as the expert on skilled nursing, specialty programs, rehabilitation care and other healthcare issues in the community.
• Maintains a working knowledge of Federal and State regulations and reimbursement guidelines (Medicare and Medicaid). Maintains a working knowledge of healthcare industry trends and legislative/regulatory issues, and communicates this information on a consistent basis to referral sources and center staff. Assists with managed care referral process. May provide assistance with new employee orientation for the admission process.
• Creates all admission packets in accordance with facility policies and procedures. Ensures appropriate admission paperwork and signatures are obtained from residents or responsible parties prior to admission. Communicates special needs of new admits to staff to ensure a smooth transition.
• Keeps all patient information confidential.
• Punctuality and regular attendance for assigned shifts.

Other Functions

• Performs other tasks as assigned.
• Conducts job responsibilities in accordance with the standards set out in the Company’s Code of Business Conduct, its policies and procedures, applicable federal and state laws, and applicable professional standards.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Expert ability to make sales calls and develop business relationships with referral sources.
• Expert ability at making effective (persuasive) presentations and public speaking. Demonstrate self-confidence.
• Expert ability to use the telephone as a sales tool, with an aptitude for translating phone contacts into service provider-customer business relationships.
• Proficient user knowledge of Windows Office programs (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), and the ability to learn to specialized computer applications that are specific to handling job requirements.
• Working knowledge (or the ability to learn) of healthcare reimbursement programs (payer sources).
• Ability to develop professional working relationships and communicate effectively with multiple constituencies – residents, family members, medical community professionals, community opinion leaders, fellow Kindred associates, etc.
• Ability to plan, organize and prioritize multiple tasks that need to be completed on a daily basis. Excellent organizational skills and documentation orientation.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Ability to work independently. Must be self-motivated and goal-oriented.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to work flexible hours, as admission responsibilities may dictate.
• Ability to maintain regular attendance.
• Ability to perform the essential job functions of this job, with or without reasonable accommodations.

Requirements

Education

Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in an appropriate field preferred.

Two years of equivalent experience in a sales/marketing position or Admissions Coordinator position will be considered in lieu of a degree.

Licenses/Certification

Valid driver’s license.

Experience

Six months experience in a long-term care environment preferred.

3-4 years of experience in a sales/marketing position, or with a heavy emphasis on customer service. A background in community involvement is preferred.

Note: All employees of Cascadia Healthcare are required to submit and be cleared to work in the facility per each state’s specific background check requirements prior to contact with patients/residents.