Case Manager

About the role

We are seeking a dedicated Discharge Planner to join our team at CHRISTUS Spohn Health System. Our ideal candidate will have a passion for helping individuals manage mental health challenges and will utilize proven, innovative, and progressive therapies to promote long-term wellness.

Responsibilities

• Coordinates with admission staff and clinical staff to facilitate patient treatment needs for inpatient programs.
• Acts as patient liaison for physician, clinical staff, and family members to coordinate resources and discharge needs.
• Works in coordination with the Performance Improvement Coordinator to conduct closed and concurrent reviews of medical records.
• Interacts with the medical/clinical team to provide a flow of communication and document timely and comprehensive information.
• Facilitates timely discharge planning and works with the primary therapist and nursing staff to facilitate treatment planning documentation, family contact, scheduling appointments, and absentees from programming.
• Works with the primary therapist and nursing staff to facilitate treatment planning documentation, family contact, scheduling appointments, absentees from programming, and access to community resources.
• Performs additional discharge planning duties as required and coordinates flow of communication among staff involved in the patient's care.
• Completes referral process and necessary paperwork for all other levels of care and makes follow-up appointments, including follow-up letters needed by the patient.
• Completes medication assistance forms and assists patients and families with follow-up care items.
• Conducts special retrospective studies/audits when needed by M&PS and/or other committee structures.
• Accurately conducts discharge reviews on 100% of all discharges per month and accurately inputs discharge review information into a computer database.
• Accurately completes all initial CQI+ forms and questionnaires in a timely manner.

Requirements

• Education: Associate degree with emphasis in healthcare or bachelor’s degree in social services field preferred.
• Experience: At least one year of psychiatric/chemical dependency experience with good working knowledge of psychiatric/medical processes preferred.

Skills

• Excellent assertive communication and customer service skills.
• In-depth knowledge of chemical dependency and psychiatric treatment, including the discharge planning process.
• Strong writing and composition skills.
• Understanding of regulatory requirements, fiscal reimbursement, and utilization review as integral components of patient care.
• Strong patient advocacy skills.
• Ability to organize, prioritize, and manage a high-volume workload effectively.
• Skilled in analyzing and utilizing data and systems to provide individualized, cost-effective, high-quality treatment.
• Functions independently with minimal supervision while maintaining a positive work attitude.
• Interacts cooperatively and professionally with staff to achieve optimal patient outcomes.
• Competent in addressing age-, disability-, and culturally related patient needs, relating to patients in a sensitive and respectful manner.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification and an Oceans approved behavioral health de-escalation program.