Purpose of Your Job Position
The primary purpose of your job position is to obtain required information, schedule and/or conduct nursing assessments (if qualified), admit patients efficiently, and coordinate, direct, and administer policies, procedures, events, and projects relating to all phases of the facility’s public relations. These duties are performed in accordance with established policies and procedures, and all regulations governing the protection of patients’ and employees’ rights.
Delegation of Authority
As Marketing & Community Relations, you are delegated the administrative authority, responsibility, and accountability necessary for carrying out your assigned duties.
Job Functions
Every effort has been made to identify essential functions of this position. The list below represents core duties, but it does not preclude other related tasks.
Duties and Responsibilities
Administrative Functions
- Adhere to written policies and procedures governing the day‑to‑day functions of the Marketing and Community Awareness department, and those that cover nursing assessments (if qualified).
- Organize, implement, evaluate, and direct facility public‑relations and community‑awareness programs and activities while supporting and promoting the philosophy, goals, objectives, and programs of the facility.
- Ensure that all disseminated information about the facility is accurate; provide creative support for publications as required.
- Schedule and conduct facility tours for prospective patients and their families or representatives.
- Keep a supply of printed materials concerning the facility on hand.
- Handle media requests, submit releases, ads, or promotions, monitor and maintain copies of facility‑related stories, and maintain a productive working relationship with the media, observing patient and employee privacy rights.
- Represent the facility at top‑level meetings and outside events as directed.
- Maintain an accurate record of available beds, patient listings, assigned room numbers, and primary contacts at all times.
- Maintain an admission waiting list, where applicable.
- Stay current on Medicaid/Medicare and state/federal regulations governing admission/discharge requirements.
- Maintain original admission and pre‑admission paperwork in restricted areas in a neat, easily‑referenced order.
- Obtain required written information, patient histories, and conduct nursing assessments (if qualified) to evaluate admission eligibility and serve as liaison between the Administrator, medical staff, and other facilities’ personnel.
- Schedule and interview patients or representatives to collect admission information, including identification records, copies, and signatures on all applicable paperwork, and conduct or participate in facility orientation for new patients and families.
- Coordinate with Nursing to schedule admissions, transfers, and discharges as required.
- Complete accident/incident reports as necessary.
- Maintain a good working rapport with inter‑department personnel, discharge planners, and social workers to support an effective referral network.
- Interpret the department’s policies and procedures to personnel, patients, visitors, and government agencies as required.
- Advise the Administrator of specific admissions and community‑relations problems.
- Perform miscellaneous secretarial, business office, and reception duties as required.
- Take on any additional duties that may arise to meet the facility’s and patients’ needs.
- Perform administrative tasks such as completing medical forms, reports, evaluations, studies, and charting as necessary.
Committee Functions
- Serve on and attend various committee meetings (Infection Control, Policy Advisory, Pharmaceutical, Quality Assessment, etc.) as required.
Staff Development Functions
- Attend all required and directed in‑service educational classes and on‑the‑job training programs, including annual OSHA and CDC trainings.
- Attend workshops, seminars, or other approved programs.
- Report occupational exposures to blood, body fluids, infectious materials, or hazardous chemicals per the facility’s policies and procedures.
- Create an atmosphere of warmth, personal interest, and positive emphasis, maintaining a calm environment throughout the facility.
Nursing Care Functions
- Inform nursing staff of new admissions, expected arrival times, room assignments, and other relevant details; ensure rooms are ready.
- Greet newly admitted patients on admission and escort them to their rooms as necessary.
- Meet with patients or their families to discuss any concerns; report problems to the Director.
- Assist in transporting discharged patients as required.
Safety and Sanitation Functions
- Participate in implementing and maintaining the infection control program to monitor communicable or infectious diseases among patients and personnel.
- Follow ergonomics policies and procedures governing lifting techniques, repetitive tasks, and the use of safety equipment to prevent work‑related injuries and illnesses.
- Help develop, implement, and maintain hazardous‑condition reporting procedures.
- Report missing or illegible labels and MSDSs to the safety officer or designated person.
Equipment and Supply Functions
- Recommend to the Director the equipment and supply needs of the department and ensure supplies are replenished in work areas.
Care Plan and Assessment Functions
- Participate in developing written preliminary and comprehensive patient nursing‑needs assessments that identify problems or needs, describe the care to be given, set goals, and assign responsible professionals.
- Encourage patients to participate in developing and reviewing their care plans.
- Review patient care plans for appropriate goals, problems, approaches, and revisions based on nursing needs.
- Ensure all personnel involved in delivering care are aware of the patient’s care plan.
Patient Rights Functions
- Maintain confidentiality of all patient information.
- Ensure all nursing care is provided in privacy and that staff knock before entering rooms.
- Assure that patients receive fair and equitable treatment, respect for individual rights, and protection of property and civil rights.
- Ensure patients’ valuables are inventoried and a “Release from Responsibility” waiver is signed per policy.
- Report and investigate all allegations of patient abuse and/or misappropriation of patient property.
Working Conditions
- Work in office areas, throughout the facility, and at outside locations (hospitals, physician offices, etc.).
- Move intermittently during working hours.
- Experience frequent interruptions from patients, personnel, visitors, and government agencies.
- Expect hostile or emotionally upset interactions with patients, families, or visitors.
- Communicate with medical staff, nursing personnel, and other department supervisors.
- Work beyond normal hours, including weekends and holidays, and be available during emergencies (severe weather, evacuation, etc.).
- Participate in community or civic health projects as appropriate.
- Attend continuing educational programs.
- Be exposed to falls, burns, odors, dust, disinfectants, tobacco smoke, and other air contaminants.
- Be exposed to hazardous chemicals, infectious waste, and diseases (TB, COVID variants, AIDS, hepatitits B, etc.).
- Maintain liaison with patients, families, support departments to plan for patient needs.
Education
- Must possess a minimum of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, or an equivalent qualification unless waived by the Administrator.
- If required to conduct nursing assessments, must have graduated from an approved LPN or RN program.
Experience
- Must have experience in admissions and/or community awareness in a hospital, long‑term care facility, or other related health‑care facility.
Specific Requirements
- Must possess a current, unencumbered, active license to practice as an LPN or RN in Arkansas, if required for nursing assessments.
- Must read, write, speak, and understand English.
- Must be able to make independent decisions when warranted.
- Must handle personnel, patients, families, visitors, and government agencies with patience, tact, cheerfulness, and enthusiasm at all times.
- Must be knowledgeable of nursing and medical practices, laws, regulations, and guidelines for long‑term care and specifically admissions, discharges, and transfers.
- Must have leadership and supervisory capability and a willingness to work harmoniously with and supervise others.
- Must plan, organize, and effectively present concepts to community groups or agencies.
- Must communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
- Must plan, organize, develop, implement, and interpret programs and policies necessary for quality care.
- Must relay patient‑condition information accurately.
- Must not pose a direct threat to the health or safety of others in the workplace.
- Must be willing to follow all company, state, and regulatory policies related to infection control and vaccination requirements.
Physical and Sensory Requirements
- Move intermittently throughout the workday.
- Speak and write English clearly and understandably.
- Manage mental and emotional stress from working with ill, disabled, elderly, emotionally upset, and sometimes hostile individuals.
- Use hearing or vision aids adequately to meet job responsibilities.
- Operate independently, demonstrating flexibility, personal integrity, and effective collaboration with patients, personnel, and agencies.
- Meet general health requirements set by the facility’s policies.
- Push, pull, move, or lift a reasonable minimum of pounds to a reasonable height and distance.
- Assist in patient evacuation during emergencies if necessary.