HT Coordinator

Purpose and Scope

Functions as part of the Home Therapies dialysis health care team as the Coordinator of Home Therapies for a defined geographic area. Ensures provision of quality home patient care in accordance with FMS policies, procedures, and training. Responsible for growing the assigned Home Therapies program in coordination with the Business Unit management and support functions.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

• Provides safe and effective training and oversight of the delivery of home dialysis therapies to patients in compliance with facility policy, state, and federal regulations.
• Ensures staff are scheduled to provide availability 24 hours/day, 7 days a week for patient needs.
• Orients all new home therapies staff and provides ongoing education.
• Holds staff meetings regularly.
• Participates in Business Unit and FMS Corporate initiatives, projects, and audits as directed.
• Assists in the identification and evaluation of candidates for the FMS Home Therapies Program, including assessment of patients' home environment if needed.
• Responsible for the safe, effective and timely training of all home patients and their families on the operation and maintenance of all home therapies equipment.
• Ensures all educational needs of patients and family are met regarding End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD).
• Coordinates and oversees the delivery of the FMS Kidney Options program.
• Oversees patient and family readiness and ability to perform dialysis treatments at home and assesses home environment for suitability.
• Provides ongoing education to patients and families regarding renal disease, peritoneal or vascular access, home dialysis therapy, and other related health conditions.
• Coordinates transplant education and assists in transplant work up process.
• Ensures patients are educated regarding laboratory values and their relationship to adequate dialysis therapy, compliance with treatment schedule, medications, and fluid.
• Responsible for the safe and effective delivery of home therapy support care to patients with ESRD.
• Ensures patients' response to home dialysis treatment therapy is documented following company policies and procedures.
• Identifies and communicates patient related issues to the physician.
• Ensures Initial and Annual Nursing Assessment and ongoing evaluation and documentation of patient care needs are completed.
• Ensures appropriate intervention for changes in patient adequacy status and troubleshooting peritoneal and access flow issues per physician orders.
• Responsible for accurate entering of physician lab orders into the Medical Information System.
• Follows company policies and government regulations related to collection, packaging and delivery of lab specimens and reporting of results.
• Ensures all physician orders are transcribed and entered into the Medical Information system in a timely manner.
• Responsible for accurate data entered into systems to ensure appropriate and accurate billing of Home Therapies services.
• Maintains appropriate skill levels with all emergency operational procedures and initiates CPR and emergency measures in the event of cardiac and/or respiratory arrest.
• Administers medications as prescribed and documents appropriate medical justification if indicated; responsible for appropriate recording of controlled substances as required by law.
• Ensures competency of self and staff in the operation of all home dialysis therapy-related equipment, including troubleshooting equipment problems with the patient via telephone.
• Directs staff and patients in the preventative maintenance of home therapies equipment, including water systems and analyses as appropriate.
• Responsible for all new patient admission documentation.
• Ensures all relevant data including physician orders, lab results, vital signs, treatment parameters, and patient status are documented and entered into the Medical Information System.
• Completes all monthly and annual reporting as required by company policies and government regulations.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Supervision

Typically supervises non-exempt staff.

Education and Required Credentials

Graduate of an accredited School of Nursing (R.N.). Current appropriate state licensure.

Experience and Skills

• Minimum of one year medical-surgical nursing experience preferred; ICU experience preferred.
• Minimum of one year dialysis experience; peritoneal experience preferred.
• Supervisory experience preferred.
• Successfully complete a training course in the theory and practice of dialysis therapies.
• Competent at operating all Home Therapies related equipment.
• Maintains current knowledge in the operation of hemodialysis machines, water treatment systems, peritoneal dialysis machines and patient assist devices.
• Successfully complete CPR Certification with maintenance as required.
• Demonstrated leadership skills including communication, customer service, performance management and continuous quality improvement.

Physical Demands and Working Conditions

The position provides direct patient care that regularly involves heavy lifting and moving of patients and assisting with ambulation. Requires frequent, prolonged periods of standing and the ability to bend over. May occasionally move machines and equipment up to 200 lbs. and lift chemical and water solutions up to 30 lbs. up as high as 5 feet. Work environment is characteristic of a health care facility with air temperature control and moderate noise levels; may be exposed to infectious and contagious diseases/materials.