Respiratory Therapy Inpatient Pneumonia Navigator
Description
- The Leapfrog Group - Grade A for quality and patient safety
- U.S. News & World Report - High performance in heart failure treatment
- Healthgrades - One of America’s 50 Best Hospitals
- Surgical Review Corporation (SRC) - Robotic Center of Excellence
- Joint Commission - Gold seal of approval in spine surgery
Summary:
The Respiratory Therapy Inpatient Pneumonia Navigator is responsible for identifying and supporting hospitalized patients diagnosed with pneumonia and guiding them through a coordinated care pathway aimed at reducing preventable readmissions.
This role bridges clinical, case management, and community resources to ensure safe, effective transitions of care, while monitoring outcomes and identifying systemic barriers. The Navigator acts as a liaison between patients, providers, and interdisciplinary teams to promote best practices in pneumonia care management and by connecting patients with appropriate community resources. This role integrates clinical surveillance, real time data collection, and interdisciplinary care coordination to ensure safe and effective transitions of care.
Responsibilities:
1. Monitors the Pneumonia Daily report to identify patients admitted with this diagnosis to Danbury and/or New Milford Hospitals.
2. Reviews patient charts and assesses the patient to help determine if care plan is appropriate and adjusts as necessary based upon sound clinical judgement and accepted practice.
3. Regularly monitors patient response to specific treatment modalities based on clinical progression, pulmonary analytics and diagnosis, clinical symptoms, chart review and patient assessment. Notifies the physician of patients who demonstrate unusual or adverse responses to medication or therapy. Notifies the physician of non-compliance and other concerns with the patient�s care or discharge plan.
4. Connects with inpatient medicine teams to identify patients diagnosed with pneumonia that are eligible for intervention.
5. Regularly attend multidisciplinary rounds, trainings and other meetings as requested.
6. Performs, coordinates, schedules, and/or provides relevant education to patients with pneumonia. Education will also include families, care partners, and healthcare team members. Addresses patient, family, or care partner concerns in a timely manner.
7. Suggest appropriate referrals to help minimize chances of readmission to the hospital.
8. Actively participates in appropriate hospital and system committees as assigned.
9. Maintains appropriate databases and metrics for Quality Improvement and presents data at meetings as necessary.
10. Screen individuals for gaps in social determinants of health and provide them with appropriate referrals and connection to navigation services if indicated.
11. Links patients and their care givers with supportive community services and programs.
12. Identify and address barriers to care and work with patient care teams to take advantage of all available community resources.
13. Work closely with medical providers, care coordinators, case management and other navigators to help ensure patients are screened and provided with resources.
14. Work cooperatively with other clinical personnel assigned to the same patient/client.
15. Maintains competency in performing all duties of a Registered Respiratory Therapist and completes all necessary training in a timely manner.
16. Maintains and Models the Organization's values.
17. Demonstrates regular, reliable and predictable attendance.
18. Performs other duties as required.
Required:
College degree (Associate’s degree required; Bachelor’s degree preferred). Current Connecticut Respiratory Care Practitioner License with no adverse licensure actions or pending charges. Registered Respiratory Therapist credential from the National Board of Respiratory Care (NBRC). Minimum of three (3) years of experience as a Respiratory Care Practitioner in an acute care clinical setting. Strong understanding of pneumonia clinical pathways, readmission risk factors, and discharge planning.
Bilingual language skills in Spanish or Portuguese are not required but preferred.
Monday through Friday, 40 hours per week.