Discharge Planner

Imagine a career at one of the nation's most advanced health networks.

Be part of an exceptional health care experience. Join the inspired, passionate team at Lehigh Valley Health Network, a nationally recognized, forward-thinking organization offering plenty of opportunity to do great work.

LVHN has been ranked among the "Best Hospitals" by U.S. News & World Report for 23 consecutive years. We're a Magnet(tm) Hospital, having been honored five times with the American Nurses Credentialing Center's prestigious distinction for nursing excellence and quality patient outcomes in our Lehigh Valley region. Finally, Lehigh Valley Hospital - Cedar Crest, Lehigh Valley Hospital - Muhlenberg, Lehigh Valley Hospital- Hazleton, and Lehigh Valley Hospital - Pocono each received an 'A' grade on the Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group in 2020, the highest grade in patient safety. These recognitions highlight LVHN's commitment to teamwork, compassion, and technology with an unrelenting focus on delivering the best health care possible every day.

Whether you're considering your next career move or your first, you should consider Lehigh Valley Health Network.

Summary
The Discharge Planner facilitates safe, timely, and cost-effective transitions of care by coordinating all post-acute service and appointment needs for patients on the assigned unit. The discharge planner assists the transfer center to ensure timely internal and external transfers. Working collaboratively with providers, care managers, and interdisciplinary team members, the discharge planner ensures that follow-up physician, laboratory, procedural, and financial appointments are accurately scheduled and linked to appropriate orders and payor requirements. This role communicates with third-party payers to secure authorization for inpatient and post-acute services. The Discharge Planner also assesses psychosocial and environmental factors affecting recovery, provides education and referrals to community resources, and supports patients and families in coping with the transition from hospital to home or another level of care.

Job Duties

• Coordinates safe and timely discharge by arranging all necessary post-acute services including home health, DME, transportation, infusion services, and community-based resources in collaboration with the inpatient care manager RN, MSW, Social Services Coordinator, or Social worker BSW.
• Obtains payer authorization for appropriate level of care, length of stay, and post-discharge services; ensures timely submission of clinical information and communicates payer determinations of denials to the care manager.
• Documents all discharge planning activities including authorizations, communications, and service arrangements promptly and accurately in the medical record to ensure regulatory and organizational compliance.
• Reviews and completes Medicare Notice of Hospital Discharge with inpatient and behavioral health hospital admissions for beneficiaries in hospital.
• Schedules and confirms follow-up appointments (physician, laboratory, procedural, and financial) prior to discharge, linking all appointments accurately to physician orders and payers requirements.
• Acts as a liaison between patients, families, healthcare providers, payers, and community agencies to support smooth transitions of care and ensure continuity post-discharge.
• Monitors hospital transfers by collaborating with the care management colleagues to transfer medical stable patients to their hospital of origin.
• Communicates, escalates, and prioritizes transportation needs between care management colleagues and the transfer center
• Interacts with co-workers, visitors, and other staff consistent with the values of Jefferson.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in healthcare related field.
• 2 years of experience in healthcare related field or
• Less than 1 year as a new graduate.
• Knowledge of the techniques and the ability to work with a variety of individuals and groups in a constructive and collaborative manner.
• Ability to manage multiple concurrent objectives, projects, groups, or activities, making effective judgments as to prioritizing and time allocation.
• Computer and EHR literate. Knowledge of patient appointment and procedure scheduling rules, insurance, Medicare and Medicaid, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), and medical terminology.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in social work.
• Knowledge of discharge planning regulations, patient choice, and insurance authorization as needed,
• Familiar with electronic health records and documentation.
• Familiar with medical terminology.

Physical Demands
Lift and carry 40-50 lbs. Examples: Push/pull patients on bed, stretcher (requires 29 lbs. push force), lateral transfers up to 50 lbs. of the patient's weight. Frequent to continuous standing/walking. Patient transporters can walk 8-10 miles per shift. *Patient care providers may be required to perform activities specific to their role including kneeling, bending, squatting and performing CPR.

Job Description Disclaimer: This position description provides the major duties/responsibilities, requirements and working conditions for the position. It is intended to be an accurate reflection of the current position, however management reserves the right to revise or change as necessary to meet organizational needs. Other responsibilities may be assigned when circumstances require.

Lehigh Valley Health Network is an equal opportunity employer. In accordance with, and where applicable, in addition to federal, state and local employment regulations, Lehigh Valley Health Network will provide employment opportunities to all persons without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or other such protected classes as may be defined by law. All personnel actions and programs will adhere to this policy. Personnel actions and programs include, but are not limited to recruitment, selection, hiring, transfers, promotions, terminations, compensation, benefits, educational programs and/or social activities.

Lehigh Valley Health Network does not accept unsolicited agency resumes. Agencies should not forward resumes to our job aliases, our employees or any other organization location. Lehigh Valley Health Network is not responsible for any agency fees related to unsolicited resumes.

Work Shift:
Day Shift

Address:
1200 S Cedar Crest Blvd

Primary Location:
Lehigh Valley Hospital- Cedar Crest

Position Type:
Onsite

Union:
Not Applicable

Work Schedule:
Monday-Friday; 8:00a-4:30p, rotating weekends and holiday

Department:
1004-09452 Case Management - CC