Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago provides superior pediatric care in a setting that offers the latest benefits and innovations in medical technology, research and family-friendly design. As the largest pediatric provider in the region with a 140-year legacy of excellence, kids and their families are at the center of all we do. Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago is ranked in all 10 specialties by the U.S. News & World Report.

680 Lake Shore Drive

This position requires a minimum of 3 years of pediatric nursing experience to be considered, and requires reporting to the Lurie Main Campus for work.

Hours for the position are 8am to 4:30 pm. The office is locted at 680 N. Lakeshore Drive in Chicago.

General Summary:

The Centralized Access Nurse is responsible for obtaining patient medical history and facilitating correct new appointment scheduling with the most appropriate provider and location, and within the correct amount of time required for the acuity of the condition. The nurse answers inquiries regarding physicians on the hospital's medical staff and questions about the hospital's services. This nurse must be knowledgeable in all areas of pediatrics, competent in recognizing the gravity of a particular health care problem, able to prioritize those needs and act upon urgent medical problems while providing safe, effective and appropriate care. The nurse functions as a clinical expert to centralize and simplify the process of providing the appropriate level of patient care for internal and external providers.

The Centralized Access Nurse demonstrates clinical triage expertise and outstanding customer service throughout call processing for both external and internal users. This position works collegially with the departments of nursing, medicine and finance and reports to the Centralized Scheduling Manager.

Essential Job Functions:

Referral Facilitation:

• Fosters positive relationships with referring physicians, increase utilization to the organization’s clinical service. This position establishes a high level of service by working closely with practices and referring physicians to assess, triage and schedule patients to the correct specialty. 

• Maintains sufficient medical knowledge base with the ability to recognize urgent clinical situations and demonstrate communication skills necessary to make appropriate physician referrals to potential patients.

• Works collaboratively with multiple departments and physician specialties to promote positive experiences and achieve desired outcomes for the patients.

Clinical Practice:

• Demonstrates knowledge of pediatrics; identifies deviations of normal growth and development; identifies and anticipates various factors which affect a specific patient population.

• Demonstrates a high degree of clinical expertise with primary care and specific patient populations to provide care appropriate to the age and development level of the patients and families served.

• Provides first aid advice for the caller, patient and family via telephone based on established divisional guidelines.

• Differentiates and prioritizes routine and urgent needs, recognizes the severity of a particular health care problem; escalate the request based on established guidelines as necessary.

• Serves as an advocate for the patient and family in working with other health care team members.

• Works independently within the approved guidelines and nursing performance standards.

Data Management, Quality and Performance Metrics:

• Maintains patient confidentiality per HIPPA regulations.

• Provides high level of telephone interviewing techniques and customer service skills and a high degree of independence and problem-solving skills.

• Performs job functions adhering to service principles with customer service focus of innovation, service excellence and teamwork to provide the highest quality care and service to our patients, families, co-workers and others.

• Responds to telephone and faxed inquiries, accurately and consistently documents health history and enters this information in the electronic medical record. Documents initial and ongoing telephone conversations with patients and/or family and referring physicians’ offices. 

• Expected to consistently meet and/or exceed documentation standards in a concise and accurate manner:

• Correct spelling and grammar

• Clarity and conciseness

• Correct patient identification

• Accurate patient disposition

• Accurate use of the nursing process

• Maintains performance metrics related to department and individual key performance indicators and all quality goals consistently.

• Meets expectations of outstanding service, including behavior that models The Power of All Core Values with every encounter, every time.

Scheduling:

• Schedules appointments based on criteria specified by Division offices.

• Informs patient/referring office of necessary records and other related test results required prior to patient appointments. 

• Makes outbound calls as assigned and when available regarding scheduling.

• Schedules new patient appointments accurately and appropriately. Notifies the division based on the condition and timeliness of the scheduled visit as necessary.

Electronic Medical Record Messaging:

• Identifies correct patient and uses pre-established template to send electronic communication regarding patient triage or referral issues. 

• Accurately documents and forwards patient information to the division by flagging the referral, adding task or in-basketing office pool via the EMR. Reviews patient’s medical record to verify appointment and order history, medication list, and office communications to ensure complete and accurate communications.

Continuous Improvement:

• Actively participates in process improvement.  Recommends operational policy and/or procedure review and changes when appropriate.  Accurately documents issues for management follow up when appropriate.

• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Must be a graduate of an accredited school of nursing required. Three to five years of Pediatric nursing experience, 2 years at Lurie Children’s preferred.

• Must be currently licensed as a Registered Nurse within the State of Illinois required.

• Requires excellent verbal and interpersonal skills.

• Ability to remain calm in stressful situations.

• Requires high degree of critical thinking and time management skills, and attention to detail.

• ANCC certification within one year of hire.

• CPR certified.

• Intermediate level of computer skills and proficiency in typing is essential.

Lurie Children's will consider visa sponsorship of qualified candidates for the registered nurse role, subject to all applicable law as well as business and budgetary limitations.

Education

Bachelor's Degree: Nursing (Required)

Benefit Statement

For full time and part time employees who work 20 or more hours per week we offer a generous benefits package that includes:

Medical, dental and vision insurance

Employer paid group term life and disability

Employer contribution toward Health Savings Account

Flexible Spending Accounts

Paid Time Off (PTO), Paid Holidays and Paid Parental Leave

403(b) with a 5% employer match

Various voluntary benefits:

• Supplemental Life, AD&D and Disability

• Critical Illness, Accident and Hospital Indemnity coverage

• Tuition assistance

• Student loan servicing and support

• Adoption benefits

• Backup Childcare and Eldercare

• Employee Assistance Program, and other specialized behavioral health services and resources for employees and family members

• Discount on services at Lurie Children’s facilities

• Discount purchasing program

There’s a Place for You with Us

At Lurie Children’s we embrace and celebrate diversity and equity in a serious way. We are committed to building a team with a variety of backgrounds, skills, and viewpoints — recognizing that diverse identities strengthen our workplace and the care we can provide to the Chicago community and beyond. We treat everyone fairly, appreciate differences, and make meaningful connections that foster belonging and allyship. This is a place where you can be your best, so we can give our best to the patients and families who trust us with their care.  

Lurie Children’s and its affiliates are equal employment opportunity employers.  We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, marital status, pregnancy, protected veteran status, order of protection status, protected genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Support email: [email protected]