Discharge Planner

Our acute-care psychiatric hospital provides stabilizing care for adults, especially seniors, who are experiencing a mental health crisis or behavioral complications from a mental health diagnosis or dementia. We offer a team-oriented culture where people care about each other, competitive pay, generous benefits, and advancement opportunities. Unity Psychiatric Care owns five psychiatric hospitals in Tennessee and Alabama and is a division of American Health Partners, a multifaceted company with operations in seven states.

About the Role

The Discharge Planner RN (Registered Nurse) or LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse) will work with attending physicians, specialists, and the treatment team to coordinate the patient's transition and discharge following inpatient care.

Responsibilities

• Identifies the strengths, needs, abilities, and preferences of each person served
• Assists in implementing the individual plan of each person served
• Secures services consistent with the needs of each person served through direct interaction with that person and/or with individuals identified by that person
• Makes initial contact with referral sources and potential patients
• Assists with coordination of the referral and intake process
• Determines appropriate level of care and appropriateness of available services
• Assists with maintaining admission reports or screening logs, including a review of all available information and discussions with referral sources
• Assists with maintaining a waiting list with continual review and updating, including how admissions will be prioritized
• Assists with completing admission paperwork
• Initiates patient satisfaction surveys
• Completes discharge packets to ensure the patient has pertinent plan of care information
• Engages patients and responsible parties in the discharge process
• Documents the condition of the patient at the time of discharge
• Completes psychosocial assessments, develops treatment planning and modalities, and ensures those correlate with discharge planning goals as deemed appropriate
• Assists with post-discharge follow-up to reduce readmissions
• Reviews community education follow-up for assessing continued service needs
• Supervises the Admission Coordinators duties when related to discharge planning
• Offers discharge planning services to the patient in the way of supportive, individual, family, or group therapy focused on discharge goals
• Carries out a liaison role with community resource providers

Requirements

• Two (2) years of clinical experience in a psychiatric setting
• Medical terminology is essential to this position
• RN, LPN, or MSW with psychiatric nursing experience preferred; or a degree in a health-related field from an accredited school (BSW accepted with experience and training)
• Current State of Alabama License (RN, LPN, or MSW preferred; BSW accepted)
• Current CPR and CPI Certification required

Skills & Tools

• Standard Office Equipment
• Proficiency with EMR Software Applications (Allscripts EHR Software system)
• Routine Blood/IV Supplies
• Blood Pressure Equipment

Physical Requirements

• Job may require frequent lifting of objects up to 40 pounds

Benefits

• Competitive pay
• Generous benefits
• Advancement opportunities