Job Description

At ExcelaCare Hospice, we believe Hospice care is more than a service—it’s a calling. Every day, our team brings comfort, dignity, and peace of mind to patients and families facing life’s most delicate moments. With compassion at our core, we create a workplace where kindness leads, voices are heard, and every role carries purpose. If you’re looking to make a difference in the lives of others while being part of a team that feels like family, we’d love to welcome you.

Job Summary:

Assessing patient needs and prioritizing care in a fast-paced hospice environment. Primary responsibility will be to evaluate incoming patients via phone or in person to determine the urgency of their medical situation and provide appropriate guidance and referrals. This position requires quick decision-making skills, clinical expertise, and strong communication abilities to ensure that patients receive timely and effectively while planning, organizing, and directing the provision of hospice care to meet all identified needs of patients/families by the agency's policies and procedures, accepted standards of nursing practice and palliative care, and applicable law and regulation.

Essential Functions

• Conduct initial verbal assessments of patient/family needs through comprehensive review of concerns voiced.
• Develop and implement plans addressing hospice care needs, emphasizing pain management, comfort care, symptom management, and psychosocial aspects.
• Prioritize and assign call visits to appropriate staff.
• Communicate and coordinate care among interdisciplinary group (IDG) members and external healthcare providers to ensure continuous assessment and implementation of the care plan..
• Evaluate and coordinate the need for services provided to the patient/family by the IDG plan of care.
• Facilitate the consideration of different levels of care (i.e., inpatient, respite, continuous care) based on patient needs.
• Ensures availability of necessary equipment, supplies, drugs, biologicals, and other items for patient care
• Provides education and interventions to support the effective management of the patient's pain and other physical symptoms
• Assesses the patient/family's response to intervention and treatment.
• Provides education/instructions to the patient/family according to the IDG plan of care.
• Directs the services provided by and supervises the LPN/LVN, Hospice Aide, and Homemaker assigned to the patient/family.
• Completes accurate and timely documentation of patient/family calls and services provided.
• Regularly attends team meetings to communicate continuity of care concerns
• Participates in Administrative on-call duties as defined by the office on-call policy.
• Actively participates in the quality assessment and performance improvement (QAPI) program.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Performs other duties as assigned or requested.
• Conforms to all applicable Agency policies and procedures.
• Participates actively in continuing education and in-services.
• Maintains confidentiality of patient information and business trade practices
• Assumes accountability for reporting incidents and complaints according to Agency policy.

Knowledge / Skills / Abilities:

• Utilize established protocols and clinical judgment to prioritize patients based on the urgency of their medical needs.
• Strong assessment and critical thinking skills, ability to multitask and prioritize, excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Organizational skills
• Ability to supervise in accordance with Agency’s policies and applicable laws.
• Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints, regulatory agencies, or members of the business community.
• Time management
• Advanced written and verbal interpersonal communication
• Basic math skills related to patient care.

Age-Related Competencies:

Demonstrates the basic knowledge and skills necessary to identify age-specific patient needs appropriate for this position.

Information Management:

Treats all information and data within the scope of the position with appropriate confidentiality and security.

Cooperates fully in all risk management activities and investigations.

Keeps abreast of changes in health care law.

Maintains Agency/program compliance with local, state, and federal laws as well as state accreditation standards.

Minimum Position Qualifications:

• Education:

Bachelor's degree in Nursing (BSN) from an accredited school of nursing.

• Experience:

One year of hospice care experience.

One year of management/leadership experience, preferred.

• License / Certification:

Registered Nurse licensed to practice in the state in which employed.

Driver’s license and proof of current auto liability insurance; no listing in the OIG Excluded Provider listing.

Basic Life Support (BLS) certification required; Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) certification may be preferred.

Environmental Conditions:

Works in patients' homes in various environmental conditions, including homes with uneven flooring, stairs, limited space, and potential clutter or fall hazards. Possible exposure to blood and body fluids and infectious diseases. Ability to work a flexible schedule and travel locally, with some exposure to inclement weather. Moderate to high noise levels possible; tasks may involve moderate to significant stress and emotional demands, including end-of-life care situations.

Physical Requirements:

Prolonged standing, walking, bending, kneeling, and stooping required. Must be able to lift, transfer, and reposition patients safely, including assisting with patient mobility and physical care in confined or non-clinical home environments. Ability to lift and carry up to 50 lbs. independently. Requires working under stressful conditions to meet deadlines, identify patient needs, make quick clinical decisions, and coordinate resource needs. Must be able to meet patient and family psychosocial needs, including in emotionally demanding situations. Requires hand-eye coordination and manual dexterity. Ability to operate and troubleshoot durable medical equipment (DME) in the home setting. Must be able to safely navigate home environments that may present physical barriers or safety risks.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities.

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