Discharge Planner

About the Role

The Discharge Planner coordinates with admission and clinical staff to facilitate patient treatment needs for inpatient programs, ensuring compliance with Joint Commission, Federal, and State regulations, as well as Oceans' mission, policies, and Performance Improvement standards. This role acts as a patient liaison for physicians, clinical staff, and family members to coordinate resources and discharge needs. The Discharge Planner conducts closed and concurrent reviews of medical records in coordination with the Performance Improvement Coordinator and interacts with the medical/clinical team to ensure timely and comprehensive documentation supporting the level and intensity of services rendered.

Responsibilities

• Functions as patient liaison in the role of discharge planner to coordinate patient treatments with the physician, therapist, and nursing staff.
• Reviews psychosocial data and other assessments to complete discharge assessments with patients; presents findings to the multi-disciplinary treatment team for review and approval.
• Schedules appointments, follows up on absentees, and completes continuing care plans.
• Attends treatment team meetings and communicates discharge planning activities to other team members.
• Attends status meetings to share pertinent data, update attendance calendars, and communicate individual patient needs to clinical and admission staff.
• Performs additional discharge planning duties as required, including coordinating communication among staff involved in patient care and completing paperwork for judicial commitments and state bed packets.
• Completes referral processes and necessary paperwork for all other levels of care, including follow-up appointments and letters needed by the patient.
• Completes all medication assistance forms and assists patients and families with follow-up care items.
• Conducts special retrospective studies/audits as determined by M&PS and/or other committee structures.
• Accurately performs discharge reviews on 100% of all discharges per month and inputs discharge review information into the computer database.
• Accurately completes all initial CQI+ forms and questionnaires in a timely manner.
• Performs other duties and projects as assigned.

Requirements

• Associate degree with emphasis in healthcare or bachelor’s degree in social services field preferred.
• At least one year of psychiatric/chemical dependency experience with good working psychiatric/medical knowledge 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.
• Able 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.
• Must successfully complete and maintain Basic Life Support (BLS) certification and an Oceans approved behavioral health de-escalation program.

Work Environment

• Subject to many interruptions and occasional pressure due to multiple calls and inquiries.
• This position can be high-paced and stressful; must be able to cope mentally and physically with the atmosphere.
• Work requires spending approximately 90% or more of the time inside a building that offers protection from weather conditions but not necessarily from temperature changes.