About this role
Position Summary
The Total Joint Navigator coordinates the patient experience throughout the Joint Replacement Program, providing continuity of care from initial referral and preoperative preparation through hospitalization, discharge, and follow-up. The Navigator serves as a central point of contact for patients and families and facilitates communication among orthopedic surgeons, anesthesia, Perioperative Services, PAT, rehabilitation services, nursing, case management, and other departments involved in the patients care.
Essential Responsibilities
- Coordinates patients through the established joint replacement pathway from referral through post-discharge follow-up.
- Serves as the primary patient and family contact throughout the joint replacement process.
- Coordinates preoperative requirements, including registration, PAT, required testing, medical clearances, and Joint Ready education.
- Provides and reinforces standardized preoperative and postoperative patient education.
- Identifies barriers or incomplete requirements that could delay surgery and facilitates timely resolution with the appropriate department or provider.
- Collaborates with orthopedic surgeons, anesthesia, PAT, Perioperative Services, PT/OT, inpatient nursing, case management, radiology, and other multidisciplinary departments.
- Tracks patient progression through the program and promotes adherence to established ERAS, VTE prevention, and joint replacement protocols.
- Coordinates discharge preparation and reinforces postoperative instructions, follow-up expectations, and available resources.
- Participates in collection and monitoring of program quality and outcome measures, including patient-reported outcomes and registry requirements as applicable.
- Assists with Joint Replacement Program performance improvement, patient satisfaction, education, and program development.
- Participates in multidisciplinary Joint Replacement Program meetings and initiatives.
- Performs other duties related to program coordination as assigned.
Qualifications
- Current Registered Nurse license in the State of Texas or eligibility for Texas licensure.
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing preferred.
- Minimum 3 years of clinical nursing experience; orthopedic, perioperative, rehabilitation, or care coordination experience preferred.
- Experience caring for orthopedic or joint replacement patients preferred.
- Strong patient education, communication, organization, and care-coordination skills.
- Ability to collaborate effectively across multiple disciplines and departments.
- Experience with quality improvement, clinical pathways, or healthcare data collection preferred.