Triage Nurse

Responsible for identifying the nature and urgency of the patient’s healthcare needs and determining appropriate disposition. Assess the patient’s needs, prioritizes the needs and makes a referral for the appropriate level of care. Performs a variety of duties in accordance with federal, state and local regulations along with established priorities and procedures of the practice.

Job Tasks

• Takes incoming telephone calls from patients and gives them medical advice according to predetermined protocols. 
• Answers questions from patients on varying topics related to their healthcare.
• Determines urgency of seeing the patient based on brief assessment. Makes decisions about patients needing to be seen immediately, same day or next day.
• Instructs patients about medications and special diets as instructed by the medical provider.
• Processes patient’s requests for prescription refills that are received by phone and through the patient portal.
• Conducts pre-authorizations for medications when needed.
• Schedules patients who will be seen in the office only for shots.
• Provides back-up assistance for scanning, and requests for shot records.
• Meets position requirements and performs essential functions.
• Completes all mandatory training as required.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Quality and Customer Satisfaction

• Demonstrates commitment to superior customer experiences with a service-oriented attitude.
• Collaborates with others to coordinate care, resolve concerns, and address the needs of patients, family members, providers and employees.
• Considers patient and employee safety. Takes initiative to identify and eliminate risks.
• Respects and considers patient rights to privacy and complies with all HIPAA guidelines for maintaining confidentiality.

Interpersonal Skills

• Communicates professionally and appropriately at all times.
• Builds strong working relationships with co-workers and other staff while recognizing individual talents and perspectives.
• Identifies, analyzes and solves problems.

Accountability and Productivity

• Accepts responsibility for decisions and actions.
• Utilizes appropriate resources to effectively and successfully execute responsibilities.
• Adheres to regulatory and company policies and procedures.

Qualifications

• Must be a licensed nurse
• Experience in a pediatric medical practice preferred.
• Working knowledge of computer applications; prior experience with electronic medical records preferred.
• Ability to speak, read and write effectively.
• Ability to work independently without direct supervision.
• Ability to coordinate, analyze, observe, make decisions, and meet deadlines, in a detail-oriented manner.
• Listening skills that provide ability to not only hear what the patient is saying but to interpret subtle indications as tone of voice, hesitations or incomplete responses.
• Ability to make sound clinical decisions developed through a minimum of 1 year of experience as a nurse in a pediatric setting.

Machines & Equipment Used

• General office equipment such as telephone, copy machine, fax machine, scanner, and computer.

Working Conditions

• May at times work under stressful situations.

Physical Requirements

• Good visual acuity and ability to verbally communicate.

Direct Reports

• None