Health Center Triage Nurse

Position Reports to: Health Center Nurse Manager

About our client, the Multi-Cultural Health Evaluation Delivery System (MHEDS)

MHEDS was established 50 years ago as a joint project of the Erie Diocesan Mission Office and the Erie Council of Churches to meet the health needs of African-American and Hispanic Farm Workers and other low-income individuals and their families. Refugee and immigrant health were added in the late 1990s. On January 1, 2019, MHEDS entered the Federally Qualified Health Center system as a Look-Alike.

Our service area is the City of Erie. Our mission is to enable all who wish to achieve complete mental, physical and social well-being by providing equitable, culturally sensitive, patient-centered health care, regardless of their ability to pay. MHEDS has a very diverse panel of patients: 35% are Asian, 29% Black/African American, 29% White, and the remainder mixed race. 6% are Latino/a. As an FQHC Look-Alike, MHEDS must comply with standards that ensure all patients have access to comprehensive health care services. We also offer health insurance enrollment, interpretation, and translation.

MHEDS expanded by opening a second site at the JFK Center in 2020. The second site allowed us to begin to offer women’s health and accommodation to serve more new arrivals. In late 2021, MHEDS began receiving Afghan refugees along with its anticipated arrivals. In early 2022 we began receiving Ukrainian refugees. Our anticipated 549 new patients became 1,010. This Federal Fiscal Year, we have been told to expect 750 refugees plus additional Afghans and an unknown number of Ukrainians. Eighty percent of MHEDS’ staff are hired from within the New American group, allowing us to be more aligned both linguistically and culturally with those we serve.

Company Values

Here at MHEDS, we are Flexible, Ethical, Positive Communicators, Culturally Competent, Productive, and Team Players.

Duties and Responsibilities

Clinical Duties

• Triages, prioritizes, responds, and re-routes incoming patient phone calls. Uses critical thinking and clinical reasoning skills to identify health concerns and potential screening identifiers.
• Instructs, educates, and provides information to patient and/or designated support persons regarding prescribed medications, test results, provider recommended interventions, and treatment instructions.
• Responds timely to requests for medication refills for non-scheduled (controlled) prescriptions within established organizational processes.
• Sends all other medication refill requests to appropriate providers.
• Conducts pre-visit planning for nurse visits prior to patient arrival. Includes assessing the immunization status of patients. 
• Administers vaccinations and therapeutic injections or treatments in accordance with current CDC guidelines and organizational standing orders. Ensures compliance to medical supply, medication, and immunization storage regulations.
• Responsible for accurate, factual, and complete documents and records. Includes the specific conversations and instructions given to the caller and their perceived understanding. Accurately records any vaccine administrations or therapeutic injections in the electronic health record.
• Participates in morning huddles to share relevant information with the team. Collaborates with health care team on patient status and relevant situations.
• Manages health information inquiries and offers options/alternatives within the limits of nursing knowledge, approved health information resources, departmental/physician specific guidelines, and established criteria, policies, and procedures.
• Assists with access to medications and treatment by obtaining pre-authorization from insurance companies if necessary. Responds timely to other inquiries from insurance companies and referral providers with documented approval from patients. Supports medical providers with DME supply orders or letters as appropriate.
• Demonstrates professionalism and promotes a harmonious working environment by communicating clearly and working cooperatively with team members and all internal or external customers.
• Demonstrates concern for cost effective operations by working proactively to reduce waste and inefficiencies. Maintains a safe and clean working environment in compliance with current healthcare standards and regulations.
• Accepts personal responsibility for updating and increasing professional skills and knowledge.
• Assists in evaluating and formulating the policies, procedures, decisions, and solutions related to triage nursing.
• Participates in organizational safety, compliance, and quality improvement programs.
• Demonstrates proper use and care of medical equipment including: thermometers, blood pressure machines, pulse ox, etc. Demonstrates proper use and care of ancillary office equipment including: telephone system, computers, printers, copy/fax machines, etc.
• Performs additional clinic duties as assigned within the scope of practice of the nursing license.
• Assists with in-clinic interpretation if multilingual.

Safety

• Adheres to safety, infection control, patient confidentiality, and related policies and procedures.

Company Values

• Ensures the six domains of healthcare quality are met during each patient visit: patient safety, effectiveness, patient-centered, timeliness, efficiency, and equity. 
• Consistent with MHEDS’ values, treats all supervisors, co-workers, direct reports, patients, and any other internal or external person with respect and dignity. 
• All other duties as assigned by supervisor and/or based on the needs of the health center. 

Supervisory Capacity

This position does not supervise any position.

Education and/or Experience

• Associate’s and/or bachelor’s nursing degree from an accredited school nursing program. 
• Current license to practice nursing in Pennsylvania – Licensed Professional Nurse (LPN) or Registered Nurse (RN)
• Current Basic Life Support certification.
• Two (2) years working experience as a licensed nurse. 
• Knowledge or experience of Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) programs, primary care nursing, pediatric nursing, community health nursing, triage nursing, and/or chronic disease management considered a plus.

Language Skills

Must be able to speak and write in English. Additional language capabilities are a plus.

Physical Demands

Normal medical/administrative office setting demands include lifting and carrying or delivering supplies that usually weigh less than 10 pounds, but may occasionally weigh 20-30 pounds, within the building. Must be able to move between site locations during the work day as job duties require.

Work Environment

The office and clinical areas are well illuminated, climate controlled, indoor areas. Work involves some exposure to hazards typical to a medical office environment, including potential exposure to infectious diseases and blood borne pathogens, chemical exposures, fire, mechanical and electrical hazards. Protective clothing and equipment are provided and required to be worn in potential exposure situations.

Interested, qualified candidates will please submit a résumé.

J.L. Nick & Associates & MHEDS are equal opportunity employers.