La Rabida Children’s Hospital provides specialized, family-centered health care to children with medically complex conditions, disabilities, and chronic illness. Through expertise, compassion, and advocacy we help children and their families reach their fullest potential, regardless of their ability to pay.

Our not-for-profit hospital, licensed for 49 beds, helps transition children from neonatal or pediatric intensive care to home, by providing medical, rehabilitative and developmental care, and by training families to continue treatments and manage the necessary equipment in the home. La Rabida also provides extensive rehabilitation for those recovering from wounds or burns and treatment for exacerbations of chronic conditions.

The hospital’s enhanced pediatric patient-centered medical home provides primary care to children with complex medical conditions and their siblings. Children with medical homes elsewhere come to La Rabida for specialty services. La Rabida offers a wide range of specialty services provided to children with sickle cell disease, diabetes, and many others. Children are supported in their emotional and developmental growth, particularly in cases where such growth has been interrupted by accident or disease.

Finally, La Rabida provides forensic and treatment services for children exposed to abuse and neglect, comprehensive assessments for youth in care, early intervention for children between 0 and 3 years of age. Care coordination services for medically complex children are also provided for those who are covered by a health plan and receive care from providers in Cook County

SUMMARY: The Outpatient RN Pediatric Specialty Coordinator is responsible for coordinating, implementing, and evaluating patients with Technology Dependent Conditions (TDC) within the outpatient setting. This role focuses on improving patient outcomes, enhancing care coordination, reducing hospital utilization, and supporting evidence-based care pathways for chronic conditions specifically focused on TDC patients. The RN serves as a clinical resource, patient educator, and liaison among patients, providers, and community partners. The RN is responsible for submission of prior authorization requests focused on TDC patient conditions within the guidelines of payers for provider ordered patient DME, medications and supplies.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Patient Management and Clinical Expertise:

· Conducts comprehensive patient assessments, including medical history, social determinants of health, medication management and self-management readiness.

· Carries out interventions defined in policy and practice guidelines or individual plans of care as well as prescribed orders.

· Evaluates interventions against desired goals and seeks input on changes.

· Assists with referrals to community resources and specialty services as identified.

· Documents assessments, interventions and patient responses.

· Coordinates follow-up care, labs, screenings and preventive health services.

· Provides disease-specific education to patients and families using evidence-based guidelines including self-monitoring skills, medication adherence strategies, lifestyle modification and use of home devices.

· Provides direct clinic support including but not limited to: clinic coordination and team communication to support clinic flow and patient care, performing clinical assessments or procedures for patients, transcribes provider orders to create nursing orders and discharge instructions, assist providers in all aspects of consultation and treatment plan execution, reviews patient care summary with patient family prior to patient discharge from clinic visit.

· Reviews and/or completes necessary paperwork related to patient/family needs. Paperwork includes but is not limited to home nursing care plans and orders, durable medical equipment paperwork, and school forms/orders.

Program Coordination and Leadership:

· Develops, implements and evaluates TDC patient program management aligned with organizational Goals and Metrics.

· Coordinates individualized care plans and monitors patient progress toward clinical goals

· Collaborates with interdisciplinary care team to ensure integrated patient care.

· Conducts proactive outreach to high-risk patients to support care plan adherence.

· Serves as subject matter expert for TDC patient conditions across outpatient teams.

· Participates in development of clinical protocols, standing orders, and care pathways.

· Tracks and analyzes program metrics, outcomes, and quality indicators for internal and external reporting.

· Identifies gaps in care and partners with leadership to implement quality improvement initiatives.

Additional Functions:

· Other duties as assigned.

Education: Graduate of an accredited School of Nursing. BSN required.

Related Work Experience: Minimum 2-3 years clinical nursing experience, prefer outpatient, pediatric and TDC patients experience

Licensed as a Registered Professional Nurse in the State of Illinois.

Specialized Knowledge and Skills: Strong patient education and communication skills

CPR required. Only certifications issued by the American Heart Association or the American Red Cross will be accepted.

Intermediate computer skills including ability to use Microsoft Word, Excel, Microsoft Teams, One Drive.

La Rabida Children’s Hospital is very proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

La Rabida is a place unlike any other. We understand the needs of families with children dealing with the most serious or complicated of conditions. With teams of the best healthcare providers in Chicago, we give continuous, comprehensive care, education, and support, helping families face their unique obstacles head-on.   

La Rabida Children’s Hospital is very proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.