Mechanical Circulatory Support Coord RN

• Develops, implements, manages and evaluates the CHI-St. Vincent MCS/VAD Program designed to improve patient outcomes and quality care, including written care protocols based on best practice updates.
• Leads and/or coordinates the development, implementation and organization of CHI-St. Vincent MCS Team Algorithms/Protocols/Clinical Pathway/Order Sets in accordance with established policies, procedures, standards and regulatory requirements.
• Conducts ongoing review and monitoring of MCS care-related documentation to ensure continued adherence to standardized MCS orders, nursing pathway and protocols and that care given was appropriate based on established regulatory requirements/guidelines; identifies issues, determines causes and provides education/guidance to preclude the occurrence of future issues.
• Assesses and reports on program including costs, patient/clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction.
• Keeps abreast of current and emerging technological developments of interest to the organization and regulatory requirements with potential for impacting existing programs; assesses applicability to current initiatives/objectives, identifying opportunities to enhance current processes/outcomes; develops recommendations as appropriate.
• Participates in the CHI-St. Vincent strategy for advanced heart failure disease management programs based on national trends that affect the provision of service, expectations of quality, and financial performance.
• Mechanical Circulatory Support assigned call coverage to coordinate care of all Mechanical Circulatory Support and Cardiogenic shock patients.
• Provide mechanical circulatory support device management and support during all sedation procedures.
• Provide patient and caregiver education on an inpatient and outpatient basis.
• Teaches and Documents Mechanical Circulatory Support (MCS) and Cardiogenic Shock education for staff and other patient care areas. Including outside resources such as home health or rehab.
• Serves as an expert on operation of Mechanical Circulatory Support and can operate devices as needed.
• Assists in discharge planning and the discharge of Mechanical Circulatory Support (MCS) patients.
• Collaborates with education and unit managers to meet the needs for staff to provide care using Mechanical Circulatory Support (MCS) and Cardiogenic Shock.
• Screens internal and external referrals for potential use of Mechanical Circulatory Support (MCS)

Ensures relevant data is collected, reviewed and analyzed following the CHI-St. Vincent MCS protocol; develops and implements action plans accordingly based on outcomes data.

• Develops program metrics and implements methodologies for gathering, tracking and reporting data that reflects significant program elements/accomplishments/issues.
• Provides formal/informal instruction and assistance in data collection and analysis for internal audiences/stakeholders to further process/quality improvement initiatives.
• Disseminates relevant data to clinical staff in order to drive quality improvement efforts.

Participates in advanced heart failure and MCS team meetings; prepares meeting agendas; prepares and delivers progress reports on key program outcomes/results.

• Develops, in conjunction with a multidisciplinary team, and implements targeted action plans designed to address deficiencies and produce measurable improvements; evaluates results to ensure improvements realized are sustained over time.

Develops, coordinates and participates in community awareness programs relating to MCS; represents CHI-St. Vincent

in the community by participating in a variety of community activities and serving in a leadership role as appropriate.

• Anticipates the evolution of customer/community needs/demands and monitors competitor programs and services focused on the needs of heart failure patients.
• Organizes and leads community-based educational forums/sessions to enhance community awareness of the signs and symptoms of advanced heart failure, and the current treatment options available.
• May act as a liaison for, or participate in, MCS-related research projects and other organizational programs and projects as needed.
• Works with the multi-disciplinary community to build a strong MCS team atmosphere, to foster continuous improvement in current and future processes and ensure coordination of care.
• Maintains current knowledge of the certification standards and requirements impacting matters within assigned scope of responsibility; ensures that these factors are considered and integrated into program development activities.

This job is responsible for developing, implementing, coordinating and evaluating a comprehensive program for Mechanical Circulatory Support (MCS) in keeping with clinical/professional standards, applicable regulatory requirements and the business/patient care objectives of CHI St. Vincent. An incumbent works in close partnership with the inpatient heart failure team to develop/maintain a MCS/VAD (Ventricular Assist Device) program that facilitates a comprehensive and seamless interdisciplinary continuum of high quality care to meet the unique/specialized needs of advanced heart failure patients and to promote achievement of optimal clinical outcomes.

In addition to working collaboratively with a multi-disciplinary team to develop/implement a robust program that is current with emerging trends and national guidelines, an incumbent serves as a clinical expert to healthcare providers, hospital staff, patients, families and the community-at-large with respect to all aspects of heart failure disease management and care. Work also includes developing protocols, policies, order sets and mentoring staff to assure continued competency in patient care to improve quality of life and prognosis.

This job requires a high degree of professionalism and the ability to influence/persuade/negotiate in order to facilitate management of ongoing initiatives/projects, gain acceptance of program recommendations, ensure compliance with standards/requirements and facilitate achievement of clinical quality improvement goals. An incumbent must be able to conceptualize and apply sound analytical methods in order to spearhead program development activities, understand complex organizational impacts and address/resolve matters of significance, and challenges/problems encountered are often unique and with little precedent for effective solutions. Guidelines for performing the work are in the form of broadly-stated business objectives and work is performed with significant independence, subject to review of results achieved from a longer-term perspective.