The Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) serves as a key clinical support team member for a primary care practice providing medical services to residents in skilled nursing facilities, assisted living communities, and other long-term care settings. This position is office-based and does not involve direct patient care in a clinic setting. The LPN coordinates communication between providers, facilities, patients' representatives, pharmacies, and ancillary service providers to ensure timely and accurate clinical support, order management, and continuity of care.
The ideal candidate possesses strong clinical judgment, excellent communication skills, attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced healthcare environment.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities -Clinical Communication and Triage
- Receive, assess, and triage incoming telephone calls from nursing facilities, assisted living communities, pharmacies, patients' family members, and other healthcare providers.
- Gather pertinent clinical information and communicate concerns to providers according to established protocols.
- Prioritize calls based on urgency and facilitate timely provider response.
- Relay provider instructions, recommendations, and treatment plans to facility staff via telephone, fax, electronic health record (EHR), or other approved communication methods.
- Document all clinical communications accurately and timely within the EHR.
- Maintain strict compliance with HIPAA, HITECH, and all applicable federal and state privacy regulations.
- Protect the confidentiality, integrity, and security of patient health information in all verbal, written, electronic, and fax communications.
- Verify appropriate authorization prior to releasing protected health information (PHI) and follow established privacy and security protocols.
Order Management
- Prepare, enter, and process provider orders in the electronic health record.
- Transmit physician and advanced practice provider orders to facilities, pharmacies, laboratories, imaging providers, and ancillary services.
- Ensure orders are complete, accurate, and properly documented.
- Track and follow up on pending orders, referrals, laboratory requests, and diagnostic testing as needed.
- Coordinate clarification of orders between providers and facility staff when necessary.
Fax and Document Management
- Review, sort, prioritize, and distribute incoming faxes and electronic documents.
- Identify urgent clinical information requiring immediate provider review.
- Process laboratory results, consultation reports, hospital records, medication requests, and facility communications according to established workflows.
- Maintain accurate electronic patient records and ensure appropriate filing of clinical documents.
Care Coordination
- Coordinate communication among providers, nursing facility staff, pharmacies, home health agencies, hospice agencies, and other healthcare partners.
- Assist with transitions of care following hospital admissions, discharges, and transfers.
- Support medication management processes, including refill requests and prior authorizations as assigned.
- Facilitate timely completion of required documentation and follow-up activities.
Administrative and Regulatory Responsibilities
- Maintain patient confidentiality and comply with HIPAA regulations.
- Adhere to organizational policies, clinical protocols, and regulatory requirements.
- Participate in quality improvement initiatives and workflow optimization efforts.
- Assist with other clinical support duties as assigned.
Qualifications Required
- Current Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) license in good standing.
- Graduate of an accredited practical nursing program.
- Minimum of one year of nursing experience.
- Strong knowledge of medication administration, chronic disease management, and geriatric care principles.
- Proficiency with electronic health records and standard office software.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
- Ability to prioritize tasks and manage multiple responsibilities simultaneously.
- Thorough understanding of HIPAA regulations, patient privacy requirements, and healthcare confidentiality standards.
- Demonstrated ability to handle protected health information (PHI) with discretion and professionalism.
Preferred
- Experience in primary care, geriatrics, long-term care, skilled nursing, assisted living, hospice, or home health.
- Experience with telephone triage and clinical care coordination.
- Familiarity with electronic prescribing and order management systems.
- Knowledge of Medicare, long-term care regulations, and post-acute care workflows.
Physical Requirements
- Ability to sit for extended periods while working at a computer workstation.
- Ability to communicate effectively by telephone and electronic means.
- Ability to perform repetitive keyboarding and data entry tasks.
Work Environment
This position is primarily office-based and supports healthcare providers who deliver primary care services within nursing homes, assisted living communities, and other long-term care settings. Direct patient care in a clinic environment is not a routine function of this role.
Key Competencies
- Clinical judgment and critical thinking
- Effective communication
- Customer service orientation
- Time management and prioritization
- Attention to detail
- Team collaboration
- Problem-solving
- Adaptability in a fast-paced healthcare environment
- Commitment to patient privacy, confidentiality, and regulatory compliance.
Pay: $25.00 - $32.00 per hour
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
