RN - Oncology Referral Specialist

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Referral Management and Coordination

• Receives, processes, coordinates, and tracks incoming and outgoing referrals for Medical Oncology, Radiation Oncology, and Infusion Therapy, ensuring referrals are complete, accurate, and routed appropriately.
• Serves as a primary point of contact for referral-related communication among patients, referring providers and offices, Cancer Services providers and staff, and other departments.
• Reviews referrals and supporting documentation to identify medical records, pathology reports, imaging, laboratory results, insurance information, or other documentation necessary for clinical review and scheduling.
• Obtains and coordinates missing referral information with referring offices and other healthcare organizations to facilitate timely review and access to services.
• Enters and maintains accurate referral information and documentation within the electronic health record and other applicable systems.
• Monitors referral status, outstanding documentation, scheduling progress, and referral turnaround times and follows up as necessary to facilitate timely completion.
• Communicates referral status and next steps to patients, referring offices, providers, and internal staff as appropriate.
• Collaborates with scheduling and clinical staff to facilitate timely appointments based on established clinical criteria, provider direction, clinical urgency, and provider availability.
• Coordinates with appropriate departments and staff regarding insurance requirements, prior authorization needs, and other payer-related requirements associated with referrals and planned services.
• Facilitates the availability of necessary medical records, imaging, pathology, laboratory results, and other clinical information prior to the patient's appointment.
• Collaborates with Medical Oncology, Radiation Oncology, Infusion Therapy, Navigation, Social Services, and other departments to promote efficient patient flow, continuity of care, and an effective patient experience.
• Maintains referral tracking tools and assists with monitoring referral volumes, turnaround times, trends, and other performance measures.
• Identifies referral workflow barriers, delays, and opportunities for improvement and participates in the development and implementation of processes, procedures, and performance improvement initiatives.
• Maintains knowledge of applicable payer requirements, referral processes, organizational policies, and regulatory requirements affecting referral coordination.

Medical Oncology RN Support

• Provides Registered Nurse coverage and clinical support within the Medical Oncology clinic based on departmental and patient care needs.
• Performs nursing assessments and evaluates patient symptoms, concerns, and clinical status within the RN scope of practice and established departmental protocols.
• Reviews provider orders, established treatment plans, laboratory results, and other clinical information as appropriate and communicates findings requiring provider review or follow-up.
• Coordinates patient care and treatment needs with providers and other members of the healthcare team.
• Provides patient and family education regarding treatment, medications, symptom management, follow-up care, and other clinical needs within the RN scope of practice and established protocols.
• Responds to changes in patient condition and urgent clinical situations, initiates appropriate nursing interventions, and escalates concerns to the provider or other appropriate clinical resources.
• Performs and/or coordinates laboratory testing and other clinical services in accordance with provider orders, organizational policies, and established procedures.
• Communicates with providers, pharmacy, infusion staff, laboratory, imaging, and other departments as necessary to facilitate safe, timely, and effective patient care.
• Documents nursing assessments, interventions, patient education, provider communication, and follow-up accurately and timely in the electronic health record.

General Responsibilities

• Provides compassionate, professional, and responsive service to patients, families, referring providers, and internal customers.
• Maintains patient confidentiality and complies with HIPAA, organizational policies, applicable regulatory requirements, and professional standards of practice.
• Demonstrates effective organization and prioritization while managing multiple referrals, patient needs, deadlines, and competing priorities.
• Participates in departmental meetings, education, training, and professional development activities.
• Supports departmental quality, safety, patient experience, and performance improvement initiatives.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities
This position does not have direct supervisory responsibilities. The position works collaboratively with clinical and administrative staff throughout Cancer Services and other departments to coordinate referrals and patient care.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience

• Graduate of an accredited professional nursing program required.
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) preferred.
• Three years of professional nursing experience preferred.
• Previous experience in oncology, ambulatory care, referral coordination, care coordination, or case management preferred.
• Previous experience with electronic health record systems preferred.
• Experience coordinating referrals, medical records, scheduling, insurance requirements, and/or prior authorization processes preferred.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

• Current Registered Nurse (RN) license to practice in the State of Iowa or current multistate license recognized by the State of Iowa required.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification required or obtained within the timeframe established by the organization following hire.

Skills and Abilities

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to communicate effectively and compassionately with patients, families, providers, referring offices, and staff.
• Ability to organize, prioritize, and manage multiple referrals, patient needs, deadlines, and competing priorities in a timely manner.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to maintain accurate documentation and data.
• Ability to review and interpret medical documentation, provider orders, referral information, and payer requirements.
• Ability to identify barriers to referral completion and independently coordinate appropriate follow-up.
• Demonstrated problem-solving skills and ability to resolve referral and care coordination issues within established policies and procedures.
• Ability to exercise professional nursing judgment and respond appropriately to changes in patient condition within the RN scope of practice.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision while functioning effectively as part of an interdisciplinary team.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive patient and organizational information appropriately.
• Demonstrates compassion, professionalism, adaptability, and a commitment to service excellence.

Language Skills
Must be able to speak, read, write, and understand English sufficiently to perform the essential functions of the position, including communicating effectively with patients, families, providers, referring offices, and staff; reading and interpreting medical records, provider orders, referral documentation, payer requirements, policies, and procedures; and accurately documenting referral and patient care information in the electronic health record.

Ability to communicate complex or sensitive information clearly, professionally, and compassionately. Must be able to understand and respond appropriately to verbal and written instructions and communicate effectively during routine and urgent patient care situations.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the essential duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to communicate verbally and hear; use hands and fingers to operate computers, telephones, medical equipment, and other office or clinical equipment; and sit for extended periods while performing referral coordination and documentation responsibilities.

The employee is frequently required to stand and walk within the Cancer Services department and patient care areas and may occasionally be required to stoop, kneel, crouch, bend, or reach. The employee must be able to assist with patient care activities and safely perform the physical functions necessary when providing Medical Oncology RN coverage.

The employee must frequently lift and/or move objects weighing up to 20 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move objects weighing up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

The position requires the physical and emotional ability to respond appropriately to routine and urgent patient care situations and to work effectively in an environment involving patients experiencing serious or life-threatening illness.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

Work Environment
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Work is performed primarily within Cancer Services in both office and clinical patient care settings. The position involves frequent use of computers, telephones, electronic health record systems, and other office and clinical equipment.

When performing clinical responsibilities, the employee may be exposed to blood, body fluids, infectious diseases, sharps, hazardous medications or chemicals, and other occupational hazards associated with a healthcare environment. The employee may also work in or near areas in which radiation-producing equipment, chemotherapy or other hazardous medications, and medical equipment are used. Appropriate safety procedures and personal protective equipment must be followed as required.

The position requires interaction with patients and families who may be experiencing significant physical illness, emotional distress, or difficult diagnoses and requires the ability to maintain professionalism and compassion in emotionally challenging situations.

The noise level is generally moderate but may vary depending on patient volume and clinical activity.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.