Infectious Disease Telepresenter - Waterbury Hospital : Job Details

Scope of Position: We are seeking a dedicated and organized Registered Nurse (RN) to manage the telemedicine cart for the Infectious Disease (ID) service and participate in bedside patient evaluations. This role is instrumental in facilitating virtual consultations between patients and ID specialists. The telepresenter provides the in-person contact between the Infectious Diseases Physician at a remote site and the patient and at Waterbury hospital. The telepresenter meets with the patient and sets the stage for the telehealth visit. This includes operating the mobile telehealth cart, directly interfacing with the patient, assisting with technological challenges, and performing physician directed physical evaluations with the camera. When not engaged in bedside evaluations, the RN will actively contribute to infection control initiatives and quality improvement projects for the hospital at the direction of infection preventionist specialist, and from time to time be involved in other projects for the quality department. This position offers a balanced mix of clinical work and project-based tasks aimed at enhancing patient care and hospital safety. Job Duties and Responsibilities:

• Facilitate scheduling of patient visits
  • Ensure the accuracy of the physician list
  • Strong knowledge of the facility scheduling and ordering system
  • Ensure patient and physician availability
• Act as a liaison between the local ordering provider and the telemedicine physician
  • Assist in building relationships with physicians
  • Assist in the selection of consult type based on local physician input
  • Facilitate follow up contact between providers as needed
• Serve as a patient advocate
  • Verify patient consent for the telehealth visit
  • Assure compliance with HIPAA and privacy standards
  • Advocate for patient care needs
  • Answer patient or family questions and concerns
• Operate mobile telehealth cart
  • Prepare for visit by identifying the clinical goals, review the patient record
  • Perform minor connection troubleshooting
  • Move Cart to intended assessment location
  • Ensure appropriate connectivity
  • Assist with hearing or communication difficulties between the patient and physician
  • Complete directed physical exam under the supervision of the telehealth physician
  • With assistance from the bedside staff, roll or position patients for physician visualization of necessary elements
  • Auscultate heart and lung sounds via connected stethoscope
  • Undress, outline, and redress wounds as directed
• Conduct cart maintenance
  • Perform routine cart cleaning and maintenance
  • Schedule Preventative Maintenance as directed
  • Perform and log routine checks to ensure equipment is working properly
  • Contact technical support for any problems or functional failures
• Reconcile visit log to ensure appropriate billing
• Follow up
  • Review instructions and information provided during the visit
  • Provide Contact for follow up with the physician
  • Assist with the scheduling of needed follow up examinations
  • Assist case management with the patient follow up needs
• Infection Control Projects:
  • Examples of potential projects include but are not limited to:
  • Participate in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of infection control measures.

Assist in developing strategies to prevent healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). Monitor infection trends, conduct audits, and recommend interventions based on evidence-based practices.

• Quality Improvement Initiatives:
  • Support hospital-wide quality improvement efforts, particularly in the areas of infection control and patient safety.
  • Collect and analyze data related to infection control practices and patient outcomes.
  • -Participate in continuous education and training programs for hospital staff to ensure adherence to infection prevention protocols.
  • other

Required Qualifications / Education/ Experience: To be successful in the role of telepresenter one must be able to utilize technology and telemedicine resources to assist the physician in obtaining the information necessary to diagnose patient condition and direct patient care.

• - Current Registered Nurse (RN) licensure in CT
• - Experience in telemedicine or infection control is a plus but not required and will be trained
• - Strong clinical assessment skills with attention to detail
• - Excellent communication and collaboration skills.
• - Ability to work independently and manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
• - Proficient in using technology for patient care and project management.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Technological skills adequate to maintain and use telecommunication devices and Electronic record systems to provide patient care
• Understanding of the appropriate usage of Personal Protective Equipment
• General knowledge of the processes involved in physician physical examination
• Communication skills to provide link between remote and local staff and patients
• Customer service skills to provide high quality patient experience and physician interaction

Preferred Qualifications

• Strong independent physical assessment skills
• Knowledge of the local health care system processes and EHR system- CERNER
• Infectious Diseases knowledge and experience

Working Conditions

• Indoor Environment
• Walking, bending, stretching, standing
• May assess patients who are confused, uncooperative or agitated
• Ability to push and pull rolling telehealth cart
• Ability to lift and transfer patients, heavy >50 pounds
• Ability to stand for extended time periods
• Fine motor skills

• Visual and hearing acuity