Surgical Liaison

General Summary of Position

Serves as a personal contact who provides support and helps to alleviate stress for families of surgical patients during the perioperative period, acting as a link in the communication network between family, patient and staff.

These functions are performed in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations and Georgetown University Hospital's philosophy, policies, procedures and standards.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

Supports, comforts and assists families of surgical patients on the day of surgery, traveling back and forth continuously between the Operating Room, Surgery Center, Post Anesthesia Care Unit and the patient's families.

Makes rounds in surgical waiting rooms, identifying families and their relationship to the patient and informs surgeon of family's location.

• Collaborates with nursing staff, volunteers, support staff, surgeons in order to facilitate and support timely and private communication and information on the patient's progress to families and / or friends throughout the entire perioperative process.
• Provides reassurance to the patient that on the day of surgery, his or her family member / significant other will be kept informed of patient's location and adherence to or delays in the operating room schedule.
• Relays messages between patient, family member / significant other and the surgeon.
• Maintains personal contact with and arranges privacy for family member(s) / significant other(s) who may need to be by themselves, have special concerns, or who may have received an unfavorable medical report from the surgeon.
• Assists with guiding patient families such as hospital resources and facilities and their locations.
• Collaborates with Post Anesthesia Care Unit nurses and if needed, prepares and escorts families to & from the PACU following patient's surgery.
• Assumes other duties and responsibilities that are appropriate to the position and area. The above responsibilities are a general description of the level and nature of the work assigned to this position and are not to be considered as all-inclusive.

Minimum Qualifications

Education

• Associate's degree degree in Nursing preferred or
• Associate's degree in Related field required

Experience

1-2 years Hospital, nursing or comparable experience in acute care setting required

Licenses and Certifications

RN - Registered Nurse - State Licensure and / or Compact State Licensure preferred

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Effective communication skills, including strong listening ability;
• diplomacy skills;
• exceptional customer service skills and willingness to go the extra mile to provide assistance to our patients and families.

Why MedStar Health?

At MedStar Health, we understand that our ability to treat others well begins with how we treat each other. We work hard to foster an inclusive and positive environment where our associates feel valued, connected, and empowered.

We live up to this promise through :

• Strong emphasis on teamwork - our associates feel connected to each other and our mission as an organization. In return, our effective team environment generates positive patient outcomes and high associate satisfaction ratings that exceed the national benchmark.
• Strategic focus on equity, inclusion, & diversity - we are committed to equity for all people and communities. We continue to build a diverse and inclusive workplace where people feel a sense of belonging and the ability to contribute to equitable care delivery and improved community health outcomes at all levels of the organization.
• Comprehensive total rewards package - including competitive pay, generous paid time off, great health and wellness benefits, retirement savings, education assistance, and so much more.
• More career opportunities closer to home - as the largest healthcare provider in the Baltimore-Washington, D.C. region, there are countless opportunities to grow your career and fulfill your aspirations.

About MedStar Health

MedStar Health is dedicated to providing the highest quality care for people in Maryland and the Washington, D.C., region, while advancing the practice of medicine through education, innovation, and research.

Our team of 32,000 includes physicians, nurses, residents, fellows, and many other clinical and non-clinical associates working in a variety of settings across our health system, including 10 hospitals and more than 300 community-based locations, the largest home health provider in the region, and highly respected institutes dedicated to research and innovation.

As the medical education and clinical partner of Georgetown University for more than 20 years, MedStar Health is dedicated not only to teaching the next generation of doctors, but also to the continuing education, professional development, and personal fulfillment of our whole team.

Together, we use the best of our minds and the best of our hearts to serve our patients, those who care for them, and our communities.

It's how we treat people.

MedStar Health is an Equal Opportunity (EO) Employer and assures equal opportunity for all applicants and employees. We hire people to work in different locations, and we comply with the federal, state and local laws governing each of those locations.

MedStar Health makes all decisions regarding employment, including for example, hiring, transfer, promotion, compensation, benefit eligibility, discipline, and discharge without regard to any protected status, including race, color, creed, religion, national origin, citizenship status, sex, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, political affiliations, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local EO laws.

If you receive an offer of employment, it is MedStar Health's policy to hire its employees on an at-will basis, which means you or MedStar Health may terminate this relationship at any time, for any reason.