Referral Services Specialist - Oncology Services Clinic - Full Time 8 Hour Days (Non-Exempt) (Union)

The Referral Services Specialist, in collaboration with the interdisciplinary team, provides clinical/financial care coordination services evaluating options and services required to meet an individual's health care needs to promote cost-effective, quality outcomes. Serves as a consultant to members of the health care team in the management of specific patient populations. He/She works collaboratively with members of the health care team to assess the needs of an individual and family, facilitate the development of an interdisciplinary plan of care, coordinate care across service sites, evaluate the effectiveness of services, and negotiate for resources to promote cost-effective, quality outcomes. The Referral Services Specialist directs the admission of patients and manages the entry process of the acute patient entering Norris and/or USCUH. Confers and reviews with physicians and physician extenders on medical admitting information to assess necessity. Ensures appropriate documentation.

Essential Duties:

• On a daily basis, reviews all new patient intake forms to initiate and maintain positive working relationship with patients and referring physicians.
• Contact “self referred” patients to determine previous medical treatments and facilitate coordination of care
• Determine desired means and frequency of communication with patients, i.e., emails, mailed communications , phone calls.
• Seeks clarification and/or assistance to assure safe and effective care as needed for adolescent, adult, or geriatric patients.
• Daily review of clinic schedule to ensure cases are moved up when there are cancellations.
• Adheres to USC policies, procedures, and standards.
• Provide assistance to Norris physicians.
• Ensures assigned physician schedule of new patients in Cerner is accurate at all times
• Daily review of new patient clinic listing to provide Norris physicians with follow-up requests by patient or outside physicians
• Attends mandatory departmental staff meetings
• Partners with physicians and physician extenders to review new patients for possible enrollment in current protocol programs.
• Provide literature as requested and follow-up regarding literature provided.
• Follow-up on “information only” phone calls to review caller’s current status and possible Norris opportunities.
• Maintains awareness of current oncology issues and scientific progress within the hospital and health care industry.
• Provides Norris literature as well as cancer care and treatment literature to patients and requesting physicians.
• Provides pertinent feedback from patients and physicians to Marketing Department.
• Provides clinical information regarding Protocol as requester
• Collaborates with Norris physicians regarding new patient consultation.
• Collaborates with financial counselors regarding new patient referral financial issues.
• Collaborates with clinical staff regarding new patient consultations
• Collaborates with Medical Records to ensure timely processing of consultations
• Assist in the development and maintenance of departmental database to track and trend new patient calls for administrative and marketing purposes.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications:

• Req High School or equivalent

• Req 2 years Healthcare experience in a related field.
• Req 1 year Experience in scheduling, case management or utilization review.

• Req Organization/time management skills.
• Req Demonstrates excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Req Demonstrate excellent customer service behavior.
• Req Ability to operate a computer terminal, Microsoft Office software programs.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Pref Specialized/technical training Graduate from an accredited Medical Assistant or Vocational Nursing Program.

Required Licenses/Certifications:

• Req Fire Life Safety Training (LA City) If no card upon hire, one must be obtained within 30 days of hire and maintained by renewal before expiration date. (Required within LA City only)

The hourly rate range for this position is $23.00 - $39.10. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, federal, state, and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.