LVN Clinical Liaison

Clinical Liaison Coordinator / LVN

Position Type: Full-Time

Schedule: Monday Friday, 9:00 AM 5:30 PM PST (flexibility required)

Work Model: Hybrid (Remote + Field- as determined)

Pay rate: $30/hr

Position Overview

The Clinical Liaison Coordinator (LVN) serves as a critical bridge between hospitals, skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), health plans (MCPs), and community-based settings. This role is responsible for clinical review, referral coordination, and the safe placement of members into Assisted Living Waiver (ALW) and CalAIM programs.

This is not a passive desk role it is a high-accountability, fast-paced, clinical, and relationship-driven position requiring strong judgment, urgency, and the ability to move referrals from intake to placement quickly while ensuring regulatory compliance and member safety.

Job Purpose

To clinically evaluate, coordinate, and expedite placement of Medi-Cal members into appropriate ALW and CalAIM services, while maintaining strong partnerships with Managed Care Plans (MCPs), hospitals, SNFs, RCFE/ALF, and community providers.

Core Responsibilities

1. Clinical Referral Review & Intake

• Review incoming referrals for ALW and CalAIM eligibility
• Assess:
  • Level of care (NFLOC vs community appropriateness)
  • ADLs, cognitive status, behavioral health risks
  • Medical complexity and medication needs
• Identify red flags (unsafe discharge, behavioral risks, unmet care needs)
• Ensure all required documentation is complete:
  • 602 Physician Report
  • Medication list
  • Clinical notes/discharge summary
  • Face sheet
• Escalate inappropriate or high-risk placements immediately

2. Placement Coordination (ALW Focus)

• Match members to appropriate RCFE/ALF placements based on:
  • Clinical needs
  • Behavioral considerations
  • Facility capability and staffing
• Coordinate with:
  • Facilities (administrators, wellness directors)
  • Discharge planners
  • Families and caregivers
• Ensure safe and timely transitions from:
  • Hospitals
  • SNFs (including 60+ day ALW/MCP eligibility cases)
• Track placement status daily until completion

3. CalAIM & MCP Coordination

• Serve as clinical liaison with Managed Care Plans
• Support ECM and Community Supports referrals
• Ensure timely communication and documentation submission to MCPs

4. Field Liaison & Relationship Management

• Conduct on-site visits to:
  • Hospitals
  • SNFs
  • Assisted Living Facilities
• Build and maintain referral pipelines with:
  • Case managers
  • Social workers
  • Discharge planners
• Education on ALW and CalAIM programs to referral partners
• Position Star Nursing as the preferred placement and care coordination provider

5. Documentation & Compliance

• Maintain accurate and real-time documentation in Sprite Care Management systems
• Ensure compliance with:
  • California Department of Health Care Services
  • ALW program requirements
  • CalAIM guidelines
  • MCP contractual obligations
• Track:
  • Referral timelines
  • Placement outcomes
  • Barriers to care

6. Risk Management & Member Safety

• Identify unsafe discharge plans or inappropriate placements
• Advocate for higher level of care when needed
• Escalate:
  • Behavioral health concerns
  • Abuse/neglect risks
  • Housing instability
• Collaborate with ECM teams to ensure whole-person care planning

Required Qualifications

• Active, unrestricted LVN license (California)
• Minimum 23 years clinical experience (SNF, hospital, RCFE, ALF, case management, or home health)
• Experience with:
  • Medi-Cal population
  • Discharge planning or care coordination
• Strong understanding of:
  • ALF/RCFE level of care
  • ADLs and functional assessments

Preferred Qualifications

• Direct experience with:
  • Assisted Living Waiver (ALW)
  • California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM)
  • Enhanced Care Management (ECM)
  • Community Supports (CS)
• Existing relationships with hospitals or SNFs
• Bilingual (preferred)

Core Competencies (Non-Negotiable)

• Clinical judgment under pressure
• High-volume workflow management
• Relationship-building and influence
• Problem-solving and escalation awareness
• Strong communication (clinical + non-clinical audiences)
• Time-sensitive decision-making

Performance Expectations (KPIs)

• Referral response time: < 24 hours
• Placement turnaround time: within 30 to 60 days
• Referral-to-placement conversion rate
• MCP/DHCS satisfaction and responsiveness
• Accuracy and completeness of documentation
• Growth in referral network

Work Environment Reality Check

This role requires someone who can:

• Handle constant inbound referrals and competing priorities
• Navigate gray areas in placement decisions
• Push back on unsafe discharges (this is critical)
• Move quickly without compromising clinical judgment

Why This Role Matters

This position directly impacts:

• Whether members avoid unnecessary SNF placement
• Whether discharges are safe vs risky