The 퀸 알바 hospital administrative position offers an opportunity to have far-reaching impact on patients lives. Hospital administrators are charged with the rewarding task of improving hospital operations and improving patient outcomes. Running a hospital is a perfect challenge for forward-thinking administrators who are passionate about providing high-quality health care and promoting patient safety.
Coordinating the long-term care of patients once they have left a hospital (or a clinic) is among the most labor-intensive tasks for providers. In such circumstances, making sure that care is appropriately coordinated for all those in need is a challenge. As their title suggests, the care coordinator must communicate with the rest of the care team members and services, sharing data and working collaboratively to make sure the best possible care is provided for patients. Physicians have more time to provide high-quality care for patients because the patient care coordinators are directly managing or facilitating the physicians care team in the broad scope of the patients care tasks.
Providers and care teams supported with care coordination show improvements in patient outcomes, lower total care costs, and even providers financial outcomes. Improving care coordination after a patients discharge from the health care setting reduces avoided readmissions, decreases ED visits, increases adherence, and keeps patients healthier.
Providers who coordinate patient care are able to determine their needs prior to appointments, which allows them to maximize their limited time in person or via video. Care coordinators have a detailed understanding of the patients social determinants of health (SDoH) and are in a position to address potential barriers impeding their ability to attend appointments, take medications, or complete other steps of their care plan.
Having access to pertinent information, the most critical aspects to successful relationships between a care coordinator and patient are making referrals, working collaboratively with other partners, such as behavioral health case managers and nurses, and providing patient-centered care. From scheduling appointments to getting answers to questions, find out how having a patient care coordinator makes a big difference in your healthcare journey. Work with patients to monitor progress on treatment plans or wellness goals; easily communicate with primary care practices, physicians, care coordinators, and family members; and receive answers from specialists across your providers network in a timely manner.
Your holistic view allows you to really understand patients — and to enhance their journey through care. Simply understanding the patient — or the healthcare provider — is not enough. You also need to know procedures and terms within the healthcare field, which allows you to transition to a starting-level job within health care, specifically a role like a patient care coordinator.
Whether you are interested in more challenging positions, or simply looking for a fresh start, we have put together extensive information about becoming a Patient Advocate, Patient Liaison, Referral Coordinator, and Scheduling Coordinator. Individuals who like working in health care, but are not suited or comfortable working closely with patients may benefit from this career path. If you are considering a healthcare administrative career because you would like to work directly with patients, reconsider.
While you would not directly interact with patients, this job would help to make sure that they, and medical staff, are provided the best possible health care environment. As the coordinator, you can oversee caretakers, handle patients cases, and, if needed, direct patients to treatment. A patient care coordinator hears from patients and families to make sure needs are being met, teaches patients about procedures or medical conditions, keeps patients records current, and acts as the bridge between patients and healthcare staff, keeping lines of communication flowing. Care coordination is most effective when the patient remains motivated to keep their health.10 PCCs work closely with patients to provide education and encouragement needed to meet health goals.
If the patients family is not aware their loved one is struggling and needs help, the Centralized Care Coordination Team at Continuum will contact and encourage patients designated family members to participate in the care process. The team must identify any barriers that may be impeding the patients full participation, including depression and other mental health conditions, and coordinate services when needed.
Case managers know the more relevant people involved, the better chance their patients will successfully address their needs, says Brooke Sabia of Activate Care. Case managers are responsible for establishing a relationship for an extended time, being consistent with communications, and showing up for the population of patients served, explains Brooke Sabia of Activate Care. As a care coordinator, you balance empathy with big-picture thinking in order to help patients struggling achieve the best possible health outcomes and quality of life.
By applying empathy, you are able to uncover–and help practitioners navigate–some of the most substantial obstacles to patient-centered care. Because you are talking with different members of a patients care team, you also can understand their struggles in providing quality care. You should also speak with the broad range of caregivers and medical professionals in order to ensure smooth delivery of care.
When creating a patients coordinated care plan, listening–really listening–is crucial. You must focus on details and demonstrate integrity in your work because you are responsible for keeping patients records private.
When the patients health and well-being are at stake, pressure to perform tasks quickly may be particularly strong. For the healthcare administrator, administrative tasks can be even more challenging because you are responsible for nearly all areas in a facility.
A health care administrator may find themselves working in different environments, ranging from hospitals and nursing homes, to ambulatory care centers and rehabilitation centers. You can expect to work with professionals from every field in the patients care, including doctors, nurses, rehabilitation therapists, social workers, and dietitians. At many of the Vanderbilt health care clinics–especially the multi-specialty ones, where you have a lot of different specialists involved in your care–a patient-care coordinator becomes your point person, who is there to answer questions and to help you navigate the healthcare process through what can be a complex system.