The new University of Iowa Health Care North Liberty Campus will open in the Spring of 2025. This 469,000 square foot facility will be home to UI Health Care's nationally recognized Orthopedics service line, offering comprehensive, coordinated, and accessible care across the outpatient, inpatient and surgical venues. These state-of-the-art clinical facilities will also include a full-service community imaging center, laboratory services, physical therapy, retail pharmacy, and emergency department as well as an array of support services. The facility has been designed to support a superior patient and staff experience; excellence across our patient care, teaching and research missions; convenient access to services; and engaging community partnerships. UI Health Care is seeking a welcoming, highly-skilled and collaborative workforce to be a part of the opening team for this superb new campus, and to help further our mission of: Changing Medicine. Changing Lives.
The University of Iowa Health Care, Utilization Management Team is looking for a Nurse Clinician to functions as a clinical nurse expert and clinical coordinator acting as nurse liaison to physicians, patients and administration. The role will partner with the health care team to ensure reimbursement of hospital admissions is based on medical necessity and documentation is sufficient to support the level of care being billed. This role will conduct concurrent reviews as directed in the hospital's Utilization Review Plan and review of medical records to ensure criteria for admission and continued stay are met and documented. Along with other health care team members, monitors the use of hospital resources and identifies delays.
This role is approved for hybrid or remote work following the completion of probationary period and successful orientation.
Position Responsibilities
Perform a variety of admission, concurrent and retrospective utilization management-related reviews and functions to ensure that appropriate data are tracked, evaluated, and reported.
Utilize an evidenced-based clinical review screening criteria as a guide to support medical necessity determinations and refers cases with failed criteria to the Physician Advisor or appeal as necessary in accordance with the UM plan.
Collaborate with the health care team to determine the appropriate hospital setting (inpatient vs. outpatient) based on medical necessity. Actively seek additional clinical documentation from the physician to optimize hospital reimbursement when appropriate.
Validate commercial payer authorization within the contractual time frame at time of presentation, every third day or as needed (e.g., ED, Direct Admit, Transfers). Manage concurrent cases to resolution care that may impact payer approval to authorize care as medically necessary.
Participate in the resolution of retrospective reimbursement issues, including appeals, third-party payer certification, and denied cases.
Provide clinical information to relevant clinical team members regarding patient needs and/or newly identified issues, specifically working with the Utilization Management team.
Serve as clinical resource to social services and other providers/nurse navigators, specifically regarding the compliance portion of the level of care.
Review data specific to utilization management functions and reports as requested.
Monitor effectiveness/outcomes of the utilization management program, identifying and applying appropriate metrics, supporting the evaluation of the data, reporting results to various audiences, and implementing process improvement projects as needed.
Participate in analyzing, updating, and modifying procedures and processes to continually improve utilization review operations.
Work collaboratively with Nurse Navigators and Social Workers to expedite patient discharge.
Participate in Care Coordination Division - Utilization Management initiatives or other projects according to departmental and organizational monitors.
Perform basic administrative tasks related to the job as required by the Care Coordination Division to maintain accurate records and to ensure worker accountability/productivity.
Maintain a highly acceptable level of professional conduct and respect for medical staff, coworkers, and hospital staff to foster a desirable image for the institution.
Denote relevant clinical information to proactively communicate to payers for authorizations for treatments, procedures, and Length of Stay - send clinical information as required by the payer.
Maintain current knowledge and understanding of hospital utilization review processes third party coverage with respect to Medicare, Commercial and Medicaid policies and procedures.
Maintain compliance with all hospital/departmental policies/procedures assigned by the department manager, including work hours, scheduling, and other criteria for the expected daily operations of the department. Comply with the Code of Ethics and Guide for Professional Conduct.
Maintain strict confidentiality in dealing with all patient-related activities and other sensitive physician and/or hospital issues by strictly adhering to hospital confidentiality of information policies.
Facilitate open communication and good working relationships with Bed Management and/or Transfer Center to promote and enhance efficient operations within the Care Coordination Division.\
Acknowledge budgetary constraints in department operations and strives to perform duties cost-effectively and efficiently.
Demonstrate ability to prioritize multiple work assignments to accomplish the assigned workload.
Assist in the orientation and precepting of professional staff and colleagues as assigned.
Maintain professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops; reviewing professional publications, establishing personal networks; participating in professional societies.
Comply with federal, state, and local legal and certification requirements by studying existing and new legislation, anticipating future legislation; enforcing adherence to requirements; advising management on needed actions.
Perform other duties as may be assigned to ensure that departmental objectives are fulfilled.
This position is eligible for remote work withinIowaand will require a work arrangement form to be completed upon the start of your employment. Per policy, work arrangements will be reviewed annually, and must comply with the remote work program and related policies and employee travel policy when working at a remote location.
University of Iowa Healthcare -recognized as one of the best hospitals in the United States-is Iowa's only comprehensive academic medical center and a regional referral center. Each day more than 12,000 employees, students, and volunteers work together to provide safe, quality health care and excellent service for our patients. Simply stated, our mission is: Changing Medicine. Changing Lives.®
Our primary and specialty care is provided by experts from all medical specialties, attracting patients from around the world. We offer our care in convenient, comfortable settings, using the most advanced approaches and with the best outcomes as our goal.
Benefits Highlights:
Regular salaried position located in Iowa City, Iowa
Fringe benefit package including paid vacation; sick leave; health, dental, life and disability insurance options; and generous employer contributions into retirement plans
For more information about Why Iowa?, click here
Required Qualifications
A Baccalaureate degree in Nursing
Reasonable (1-3 years) nursing experience
Current license to practice nursing in Iowa
Demonstrated expertise in specific clinical area of practice
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Two years recent medical/surgical inpatient experience, including care coordination
Proficiency in computer applications including Microsoft Excel, Word and PowerPoint
Demonstrated excellent organizational skills, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills
Demonstrated expertise with patient/family discharge planning process
Experience working with an interdisciplinary team
Desirable Qualifications
Previous case management experience is desired
Certification in case management is desired
Previous experience with EPIC is desired
Position and Application details:
In order to be considered for an interview, applicants must upload the following documents and mark them as a "Relevant File" to the submission: • Resume • Cover Letter
Job openings are posted for a minimum of 14 calendar days and may be removed from posting and filled any time after the original posting period has ended.
Successful candidates will be required to self disclose any conviction history and will be subject to a criminal background check and credential/education verification. Up to 5 professional references will be requested at a later step in the recruitment process.
For additional questions, please contact seton-vinsand@uiowa.edu
Additional Information
Classification Title: Nurse Clinician
Appointment Type: SEIU
Schedule: Full-time
Work Modality Options: On Campus, Hybrid within Iowa, Remote within Iowa
