Job Description
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a band 4 within the Neurosurgery Department.
The Neurosurgery NPH Patient Pathway Coordinator is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the patient pathway, from referral to treatment and follow up care.
The key tasks respectively involve managing the inpatient, day case waiting and ward attender lists for Consultant Neurosurgeons operating at Southmead Hospital, in accordance with Government Access Targets and Trust’s Patient Access Policy. To ensure efficient and effective use of available resources.
To manage the waiting list and co-ordinate admissions, pre-operative assessment clinics, ward attendances and theatre lists.
To play a central role within these services and to work in close liaison with colleagues, staff in other departments, GPs, patients and the general public.
To exercise initiative, independent judgment and decision making with situations arising from the duties described below to ensure an effective, high quality service.
Logging patient calls, recording referrals and completing the makeup of files; supporting the organising of the delivery of equipment, booking outpatient appointments, and checking patients out on the Lorenzo PAS (Patient Administration System) to ensure appropriate income generation; to ensure accurate RTT and income data.
The role requires good problem solving skills and the ability to prioritise work load.
Physical Effort:
Will be required to use PC frequently throughout working day.
Mental Effort:
Working in a busy and frequently interrupted environment, whilst also maintaining a high level of accuracy and attention to detail.
Will be required to work with Performance & Ops Manager & AGM to design and implement larger scale projects.
Unpredictable and frequent interruptions
Emotional Effort:
Will be involved in face to face and telephone contact with patients.
This requires empathy and understanding of the distress patients may experience living with long term chronic illness and the need for hospital treatment.
Working Conditions:
A busy and demanding clinical and office area.
- To work as part of a clinical team ensuring that patients are admitted efficiently for investigative treatments, diagnostic procedures and inpatient and day-case operations within national guidelines and in accordance with the trust’s Patients Access Policy. This includes: NHS Constitution, waiting time standards; Department of Health admission guidelines and booking rules.
- To work as part of a multi-disciplinary clinical team maintaining efficient systems and processes relating to patient admissions. This includes maintaining accurate computerised and manual records, inputting registration and waiting list data onto the trust’s computer systems and ensuring that all patient records are kept up to date with any details relevant to the patient’s attendance and/or admission.
- As appropriate, schedule new or follow-up outpatient appointments, book pre-admission appointments, organise investigative treatments, diagnostic appointments and TCI/operation dates ensuring that patients are informed, with reasonable notice, and that all relevant paper work is completed for given appointment. This includes ensuring that all elective attendances/admissions are promptly and accurately recorded on the appropriate PAS system(s)
- Provide administrative support to consultant/clinical teams including the management of clinician’s diaries/timetables. Confirmation of consultant’s timetables to ensure that appropriate cover is available for all clinical sessions.
- As appropriate, schedule new or follow-up outpatient appointments, book pre-admission appointments, organise investigative treatments, diagnostic appointments and TCI/operation dates ensuring that patients are informed, with reasonable notice, and that all relevant paper work is completed for given appointment. This includes ensuring that all elective attendances/admissions are promptly and accurately recorded on the appropriate PAS system(s)
- To liaise with partner organisations to assist facilitate the treatment of patients. This includes liaison with primary, secondary and tertiary care providers. Ensure that comprehensive demographic and waiting list information is recorded &/or provided at the point of receipt of referral or transfer to the partner organisation to warrant that patients are treated in accordance with elective waiting time standards.
- To liaise with Cancer Services MDT Coordinator(s) to ensure that all patients with suspected/confirmed malignancy are treated in accordance with the updated cancer strategy (where appropriate).
- To ensure that funding has been authorised for identified procedures prior to booking a patient for surgery.
- To ensure that kit necessary for procedures has been identified.
- To ensure that valuable theatre resources are utilised to maximum potential, including replacing short notice cancellations.
- To cancel patient appointments &/or TCI dates as requested and ensure that they are rescheduled in accordance with Trust policy. Accurately record all cancellations and cancellation reasons
- Provide information service for elective patients (including distressed and anxious patients/relatives as required). Be aware of the needs and concerns of patients and provide a friendly, efficient and courteous service to patients, relatives and visitors, providing them with advice and information as appropriate.
- Regular communication with consultant teams, clinical staff and directorate management to enable efficient processes.
- Be aware of correct booking processes which are being followed e.g. full booking/partial booking, accurate recording of elective/ non-elective activity
- Be aware of the needs and concerns of patients and to provide a friendly, efficient service to the patients. Use effective listing/communication skills when dealing with potentially distressed or bereaved patients and/or relatives. Use empathetic approach to patients and/or relatives seeking assistance from clinical staff/senior managers as appropriate.
- Promptly answer telephone enquiries, taking and relaying messages in a polite and helpful manner, taking action as appropriate. This will include enquiries from patients, their GPs and community hospitals.
- Provide cover for colleagues across the specialty/clinical directorate during periods of planned annual leave and sickness.
- To undertake additional administrative tasks and responsibilities within the specialty/clinical division as required by [the division or assistant general manager].
- Adhere to all Trust policies including Infection Control, Hygiene Code, Data Protection Act, Uniform Policy, taking appropriate account of patients’ rights and diversity and ensuring fair access to services.
- The post holder will undertake any other duties which may be reasonably regarded as within the nature of the duties, responsibilities and grade of the post as defined, subject to the provision that appropriate training is given and that wherever possible significant changes of a permanent nature shall be mutually agreed and incorporated into the job