Trauma and Stroke Coordinator - RN

Overview

The Trauma and Stroke Coordinator functions as the unit-based role coordinates, developments, and promotes optimal patient care delivery in the trauma care system including but not limited to prehospital, rehabilitative, and preventative care. Organizes, participates, and directs performance improvement as it relates to the continuum of care for trauma and stroke patients. Works in collaboration with other health care providers and serves as a consultant in trauma care.  Prepares and develops the patient care standards in accordance with the American College of Surgeons guidelines, The Joint Commission Guidelines and the State of Alabama guidelines.

Responsibilities

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES / ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Administration:
• Monitor national, state, local trends to anticipate future needs of the trauma and stroke program.
• Develop, interpret, and implement policies and procedures: make recommendations for revisions based on current evidence and regulations; assist with updating policies and procedures.
• Participate in the development and planning of goals and objectives related to care of the trauma and stroke patients.
• Coordinate with ED Nursing Director / Medical Director, hospital administration and clinicians to assess the need for policies, procedures and protocols relating to the care of trauma and stroke patients.
• Represent the Trauma and Stroke Program on various hospital and community committees to enhance and foster optimal care for Trauma and Stroke patients.
• Supervise adherence to hospital policies and procedures and standards through observation, medical record review, staff feedback and other appropriate sources.
• Serves as a liaison to administration, representing the Trauma and Stroke Program on various hospital and community committees to enhance and foster a fiscally sound program.
• Monitor financial reimbursement issues for Trauma and Stroke care.
• Program Initiative:
• Implements program initiatives.
• Monitor and maintain compliance with statewide system regulatory requirements for Trauma and Stroke programs.
• Coordinate preparations for regulatory or state designation site visits.
• Develop and foster collaborative relationships with all hospital departments to facilitate and support quality care for trauma and stroke patients.
• Participate in state and regional activities related to Trauma and Stroke care.
• Monitor national and statewide trends in care of trauma and stroke patients.
• Respond to Trauma and Stroke activations that occur during work hours and as needed, function in whatever role necessary to assist the team in the care of the patient.
• Serve as a resource for the hospital staff regarding care issues for trauma and stroke patients.
• Plan and implement strategies for ongoing program development and improvement.
• Monitor state and national trends in trauma and stroke care.
• Collaborate with trauma program medical director, physicians and other health care professionals to provide clinical and system oversight for the care of trauma patients, ensuring the provision of efficient, quality, and cost-effective care.
• Collaborate with Stroke program medical director, physicians and other health care professionals to provide clinical and system oversight for the care of stroke patients, ensuring the provision of efficient, quality, and cost-effective care.
• Facilitate Trauma and Stroke Performance Improvement committees as needed or directed.
• Performance Improvement:
• Assess and improve departmental performance.
• Maintains quality control programs and participates in the organization’s overall quality control program.
• Monitor performance of hospital staff involved with the care of the trauma and stroke patients.
• Monitor patient outcomes; evaluate for trends.
• Coordinate with physicians, nurses, other in-hospital staff and outside providers to evaluate and address specific patient care issues.
• Participate in case review.
• Assist the Trauma Program Medical Director and hospital administration in the development, implementation and evaluation of a quality plan which is multi-disciplinary and patient-outcomes focused.
• Serve as the coordinator for the identification, investigation, reporting and follow up of incidents and quality issues throughout the program while maintaining confidentiality.
• Monitors the team’s availability and compliance with policies and standards.
• Develop and monitor the trauma PI program in collaboration with the Trauma Program Medical Director.
• Coordinate and schedule the Trauma morbidity and mortality committee and multidisciplinary review meetings.
• Assists in data collection related to the trauma and stroke patient.
• Analyze registry data on the trauma patient population; identify trends for strategic planning and performance improvement.
• Manage trauma registry and ensure accurate, timely data entries: collect, analyze, and identify trends for strategic planning and performance improvement.
• Supervise the collection, coding, scoring and developing of processes for validation of date entered into the registry.
• Ensure the periodic reporting of trauma data to the state trauma program.
• Facilitate the measurement of selected outcomes for the trauma patient population.
• Clinical Education:
• Plan, coordinates and evaluates trauma and stroke orientation and training related to Trauma and Stroke.
• Monitor physician and nurse compliance with the educational requirements of the trauma and stroke programs.
• Ensure staff involved in the care of trauma and stroke patients meets educational requirements of the trauma and stroke program.
• Develop, coordinate and implement orientation, nursing education, and in-service programs related to care and management of trauma patients.
• Seek opportunities for internal and external trauma and stroke related educational programs for hospital staff.
• Community Outreach:
• Coordinate and oversee the development and implementation of an injury prevention program.
• Direct community trauma education and prevention programs by developing, implementing and evaluating programs for targeted populations in the community related to injury prevention and other topics identified through needs assessment of the community.
• Develop and implement strategies for communication, education and feedback from EMS systems in the service area.
• Identify opportunities for injury prevention programming in the local communities.
• Plan, coordinate and collaborate with community representatives to accomplish injury prevention activities.
• Evaluate the impact of injury prevention activities.
• Seek and pursue opportunities for internal and external trauma-related education programs for hospital staff, patients, families and the community.
• Participate in community-based emergency practice exercises.

• Knowledge and Skill:
• Analyze and interpret complicated information.
• Determines a course of action based on research, data, standards of care and general guidelines/protocols.
• Communicate effectively with a wide variety of intra- and inter-facility staff and administration using both oral and written communication.

DCH Standards:

• Maintains performance, patient and employee satisfaction and financial standards as outlined in the performance evaluation.
• Performs compliance requirements as outlined in the Employee Handbook.
• Must adhere to the DCH Mission, Vision, and Values including creating positive relationships with patients/families, coworkers, colleagues and with self.
• Performs essential job functions in a manner that ensures the safety of patients, visitors and employees.
• Identifies and reduces unsafe practices that may result in harm to patients, visitors and employees.
• Recognizes and takes appropriate action to reduce risks and hazards to promote safety for patients, visitors and employees.
• Requires use of electronic mail, time and attendance software, learning management software and intranet.
• Must adhere to all DCH Health System policies and procedures.
• All other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

MINIMUM KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

• Current Alabama or Multistate RN licensure.
• TNCC required.
• Bachelor’s degree in Nursing or Health Related Field preferred.
• 2 years’ experience as a registered nurse, specialty experience preferred in applied area. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.  
• Customer service abilities including effective listening skills, critical thinking skills, decisive judgment and the ability to work with the minimal supervision in a fast-paced environment.
• Must be able to read, write legibly, speak, and comprehend English.

WORKING CONDITIONS

WORK CONTEXT

• Must be able to use computers, electronic mail, telephone and texting.

PHYSICAL FACTORS

• Medium work. Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 30 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.
• Must be able to tolerate prolonged periods of standing and walking.
• Must be able to reach reasonable distances in any direction.
• Must be able to stand, walk, kneel, bend, sit and stoop.
• Must have the ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull and carry objects.
• Must be able to perform the duties with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Must possess stamina to provide 24-hour management for assigned area(s) of responsibility.
• Hearing and vision must be normal or corrected to within normal range.