Discharge Planner

About the role

Functions as a member of the interdisciplinary treatment team with primary responsibility for initial assessments, discharge planning and other case management responsibilities. Will perform case management tasks with minimal supervision consistent with the developmental age of the patients served.

Responsibilities

• Participates as an integral professional member of an interdisciplinary team.
• Collects and records data that is comprehensive, accurate, and systematic in the assessment form and in progress notes.
• Affords advocacy on behalf of the patient to maximize available services.
• Affords assistance to the treatment team by coordinating planning efforts.
• Affords assistance in determining the appropriateness of admissions and receives referrals for discharge planning intervention.
• Establishes and maintains a collaborative environment in coordination with the patient and other healthcare providers.
• Affords assistance to patients and families in achieving a satisfying and productive discharge plan through health teaching and documents teaching according to hospital policy.
• Performs discharge planning as developed with the treatment team from day of admission.
• Affords liaison for patients and their families to various community agencies, hospital consultants and services.
• Participates in improving organizational performance and other means of evaluation to assure quality of nursing and discharge planning services provided for patients.
• Attends continuing education seminars and in-services as necessary to maintain professional licensure, competency, and to satisfy hospital-required educational standards.
• Coordinates post-acute care planning including referrals to skilled nursing, rehabilitation, home health, or durable medical equipment providers.
• Provides education to patients and families to support discharge readiness and ensure understanding of post-discharge instructions and available services.
• Demonstrates working knowledge of Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance guidelines relevant to post-acute services and transitions of care.
• Provides timely documentation of discharge planning activities, patient/family communications, and care coordination in accordance with hospital policy and regulatory standards.
• Collaborates with case managers, utilization review, and third-party payors to support timely transitions and resolve coverage or authorization issues.
• Affords assistance to patients and families in navigating community-based resources, including transportation, housing, or medical support programs.
• Participates in weekend or holiday rotations as needed to ensure continuity of discharge planning services if applicable for your assigned unit.

Qualifications

• Education, Certification, and/or Licensure: Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Psychology, Sociology, Nursing, or related field. State criminal background check and Federal (if applicable), as required for regulated areas.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience: One (1) year experience in a healthcare setting.

Core Duties and Responsibilities

The statements described here are intended to describe the general nature of work being performed by people assigned to this position. They are not intended to be constructed as an all-inclusive list of all responsibilities and duties. Other duties may be assigned.

Physical Requirements

• Frequent walking, standing, stooping, kneeling, reaching, pushing, pulling, lifting, grasping are necessary body movements utilized in performing duties through the work shift.
• When working on inpatient units must be able and willing to participate in physical restraint of patient if needed.

Working Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Skills & Abilities

• Must have independent decision-making ability.
• Ability to work with multi-disciplinary groups and facilitate meetings.
• Ability to work independently or cooperatively as a team member.

Additional Job Description

Scheduled Weekly Hours: 40
Shift: Exempt/Non-Exempt: United States of America (Non-Exempt)
Company: PVH Potomac Valley Hospital
Cost Center: 403 PVH Care Management
Address: 100 Pin Oak Lane Keyser West Virginia
Equal Opportunity Employer West Virginia University Health System and its subsidiaries (collectively "WVUHS") is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local fair employment practices laws.