Admissions/transfers team nurse?

[carebear01, BSN, RN]

Hello! I’m looking to apply for a position as a admissions/transfers RN. From the job description, it looks like I will be helping to facilitate transfers between our hospitals, etc. So far the job is fully remote with 12 hr shifts. I’m looking to see if there are any admissions/transfer nurses out there so you could give me some insight into your job. What do your day look like? Are you on the phone with doctors all day, or do you use texting/emails?

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

Health systems have differing policies/procedures regarding Admission/Transfer RN role. 

Slightly familiar with Hosp. of Univ of Pennsylvania (HUP) transfer center as used several times for my husband in 2019.  Transfer center operates 24/7 with staff onsite. They sat at computer stations used several monitors to keep up with pending referrals and hospital bed capacity by unit.

Referring facility physician calls hospitals Transfer center - call answered by center RN. If patient known by facility/specialty area: eg. Pulmonary HTN center, Oncology dept, Transplant center, caller transferred to Fellow/Resident with that department to determine need for transfer or handle at referring facility. Fellow then contacts call center with decision:  staying at other hospital or confirm need for transfer.  Transfer center RN makes contact with referring hospital, requests faxed records and detailed report.  Priorities transfer based on: patient clinical status, severity of illness,  bed availability, arranges transport -outside ambulance services, facilities own ambulance transport or need helicopter/ medical plane transport.  Transfer center receives periodic/shift report of each unit's admit/discharge status to arrange bed availability.  Communicates with referring facility on ETA of transfer.

My DH had advanced Pulmonary HTN on 6 L O2, had respiratory arrest @ home - I administered CPR, taken to local hospital. He had episode of bradycardia there.  Gave ER attending HUP'S PUL HTN dept number (as followed by them) to speak with Pulmonary HTN Fellow + transfer center RN, he was transferred to HUP after ED records faxed, ED RN provided report, bed was available and transport arranged with ambulance service --process took 6 hrs --admitted to step down then transferred to medical ICU next day as on high flow O2 and still desatting; MICU bed finally available.   6 months later,  found unconscious in Bathroom, brief respiratory arrest; was stable on 8L 02,  talkative upon arrival at local hospital, no significant change from baseline. HUP Transfer unit  staff called outside hospital several times a day to report on bed availability -none.  So he spent 4 days at local hospital, tests unremarkable, as no bed available at HUP, went home with Palliative Care.   

HUP just opened a new 17-story  patient pavilion with 504 private patient rooms and 47 operating rooms so expect that "no bed availability" will be minimal except for Philly's increased COVID hospitalization numbers.

Hope these hospitals info/job descriptions helpful to you.

HUP Patient Transfer

Penn State Hershey : https://www.pennstatehealth.org/careers/transfer-center-liaison-patient-logistics-5

Thomas Jefferson Univ. Health System: The Journey to Building a Patient Flow Management Center

Oschner Health : https://www.ochsner.org/medical-professionals/referring-physicians-the-regional-referral-center/hospital-transfers-physician-consults/

Duke:  Clinical Registered Nurse

[carebear01, BSN, RN]

On 2/4/2022 at 10:42 PM, NRSKarenRN said:

Health systems have differing policies/procedures regarding Admission/Transfer RN role. 

Slightly familiar with Hosp. of Univ of Pennsylvania (HUP) transfer center as used several times for my husband in 2019.  Transfer center operates 24/7 with staff onsite. They sat at computer stations used several monitors to keep up with pending referrals and hospital bed capacity by unit.

Referring facility physician calls hospitals Transfer center - call answered by center RN. If patient known by facility/specialty area: eg. Pulmonary HTN center, Oncology dept, Transplant center, caller transferred to Fellow/Resident with that department to determine need for transfer or handle at referring facility. Fellow then contacts call center with decision:  staying at other hospital or confirm need for transfer.  Transfer center RN makes contact with referring hospital, requests faxed records and detailed report.  Priorities transfer based on: patient clinical status, severity of illness,  bed availability, arranges transport -outside ambulance services, facilities own ambulance transport or need helicopter/ medical plane transport.  Transfer center receives periodic/shift report of each unit's admit/discharge status to arrange bed availability.  Communicates with referring facility on ETA of transfer.

My DH had advanced Pulmonary HTN on 6 L O2, had respiratory arrest @ home - I administered CPR, taken to local hospital. He had episode of bradycardia there.  Gave ER attending HUP'S PUL HTN dept number (as followed by them) to speak with Pulmonary HTN Fellow + transfer center RN, he was transferred to HUP after ED records faxed, ED RN provided report, bed was available and transport arranged with ambulance service --process took 6 hrs --admitted to step down then transferred to medical ICU next day as on high flow O2 and still desatting; MICU bed finally available.   6 months later,  found unconscious in Bathroom, brief respiratory arrest; was stable on 8L 02,  talkative upon arrival at local hospital, no significant change from baseline. HUP Transfer unit  staff called outside hospital several times a day to report on bed availability -none.  So he spent 4 days at local hospital, tests unremarkable, as no bed available at HUP, went home with Palliative Care.   

HUP just opened a new 17-story  patient pavilion with 504 private patient rooms and 47 operating rooms so expect that "no bed availability" will be minimal except for Philly's increased COVID hospitalization numbers.

Hope these hospitals info/job descriptions helpful to you.

HUP Patient Transfer

Penn State Hershey : https://www.pennstatehealth.org/careers/transfer-center-liaison-patient-logistics-5

Thomas Jefferson Univ. Health System: The Journey to Building a Patient Flow Management Center

Oschner Health : https://www.ochsner.org/medical-professionals/referring-physicians-the-regional-referral-center/hospital-transfers-physician-consults/

Duke:  Clinical Registered Nurse

Thank you so much! I was able to find out some more information by talking to the manager. The description you gave was on point. I both excited and nervous to try something new. All I know is bedside nursing.