Job Summary

The Hospice Liaison is responsible for developing a hospice presence in area hospitals and acting as a liaison between the contracted hospitals and the hospice team. The Hospice Liaison is responsible for making inpatient visits to hospice patients in contracted hospitals, acting as a consultant for pain and symptom management, providing in-service education to providers, performing pre-admission evaluation for appropriateness for hospice services, and initiating the admission process by educating and informing patient/family  of hospice and its services.

Job Duties

Develop a hospice presence in the area hospitals, attending rounds and conferences when possible, conferring with providers and speaking at meetings.

Serve as a consultant to medical professionals concerning the hospice programs, palliative care, pain management, specialty programs, and about hospice reimbursement.

Act as a referral source to physicians and other medical staff in hospital setting to assess patients for appropriateness of admission to hospice services.

Work in conjunction with hospital case managers regarding current patients, new referrals, and provide consultation and follow up as requested.

Respond to referrals/consults promptly and schedule a meeting with the patient and family and if necessary, conduct a full assessment/inpatient admission according to established protocol.

After receipt of the referral, review patient insurance information, medical documentation, and assess the medical needs of the patient and ensure all necessary orders from the referral source, the physician, and the hospice have been completed.

Explain the hospice benefit to patients and families/caregivers and regarding the terminal illness, death and dying, comfort care and symptom management.

Coordinate hospice services, including the provision of needed DME and medical supplies upon discharge from hospital.

Ensure the patient has a physician and obtain an order from that physician to oversee the hospice plan of care.

Act as a liaison for current hospice patients admitted to the hospital and ensure that the hospice plan of care is adhered to during the in-patient admission

Help determine if the inpatient admission is related to the terminal illness.

Ensure a smooth discharge process for current hospice patients and patients referred to hospice services by providing education and obtaining the necessary information required for successful transition to home.

Maintain an accurate and updated medical record, including communications with others involved in patient’s care, and any other information pertinent to the care of the patient.

Document all patient related visits and phone calls within the EMR and ensure documentation is completed and transferred (synchronized) at the end of each shift.

Perform other duties as assigned by the Director and/or Manager.

Job Specifications

Graduate of NLN accredited school of nursing and current license to practice professional nursing as a Registered Nurse or Licensed Practical Nurse in the state preferred; Bachelor’s Degree preferred.

Current American Heart Association CPR certification required.

Must be a licensed driver with an automobile that is insured in accordance with state or organization requirements and is in good working order.

Minimum of one years’ clinical experience required or two years of solid working knowledge as a Hospice Liaison required; hospice experience preferred.

Demonstrate ability to work independently as well as effectively as part of an interdisciplinary team.

Demonstrate autonomy, organization, assertiveness, flexibility, and cooperation in performing job responsibilities.

Demonstrates excellent observation, problem solving, verbal and written communications, nursing skills per competency checklist.

Shows ability to organize and prioritize workload independently.