Discharge Coordinator

Responsibilities

Assessment

• Does the initial screening of all elective inpatient admissions related to:
  • Appropriateness of admission
  • Coordinates and supervises data and reporting needs. Provide timely discharge planning.
  • Coordinates out-of-area transfers as well as third party contractual arrangements and supervise ground transportation, home health and durable medical equipment.
  • Appropriate resource utilization
  • Coordinates the pre-admission screening and education of the identified patient populations
  • Documents patients admitted directly through Pre-Admissions in the laptop system and forwards the information on to the Case Managers as appropriate with discharge planning concerns and the initial discharge-planning screen.
  • Utilization and documents patient admitted directly.

Technical and Job Specific Skills

• Ensures facility compliance with federal and state regulations involving the Case Management practice.
• Answers inquires and educate patient, family, MD and hospital employee on discharge follow up.

Assists Case Managers with Patient Transfers and Discharges

• Frequently contact with case manager, charge nurse, bedside nurse, outside facilities to obtain and verify and/or provide information regarding the discharge follow up.
• Utilizes Interqual - Screening criteria for all admissions and observations status patients.
• Collaborate with all respective departments to ensure patient flow during the admission and transfer process.
• Interacts with the Admitting Md as appropriate involving the Physician Advisor as needed for inappropriate admits transfers and level of care.
• Assist case manager on initial screening of all elective inpatient admission related to: level of care, appropriateness of admissions, discharge needs, third party contract arrangements, appropriate resource.
• Utilization and documents patient directly.
• Appropriately prioritize work activities.

Performance/Process Improvement

• Is aware of and follows all hospital and department process policies and procedures.
• Is knowledgeable of Improvement performance/process improvement (P.I.) methodology.
• Offers performance/process improvement.

Guest/Interdepartmental Relations

• As observed by representatives of management, all interactions are conducted in a professional manner.
• Consistently exhibits appropriate phone protocol.
• Consistently contributes to the team effort (e.g., assists co-workers when need is observed or upon request, offers constructive suggestions).

Productivity

• Maintains high productivity and performs efficiently regardless of whether the work volume is high or low.
• Appropriately prioritizes work activities.
• Responds to difficult situations with self-control and a positive attitude.

Key Success Factors

• Readily accepts work assignments in a positive manner.
• Performs work that is accurate, neat and consistent.
• Documentation is legible.
• Reports safety issues and equipment failures appropriately.
• Projects a professional image, follows the hospital dress code policy and/or department requirements.
• Wears hospital ID badge at all times on duty.
• Sensitive information including, but not limited to, patient records, charts, hospital documents and employee information is kept confidential without exception. 
• Employee reports to work each regularly scheduled work day.

Qualifications

• Minimum Education:  Preferred Bachelors of Science/Nursing or Bachelors of Health Care Administration.
• Minimum Experience:  2 -3 years’ experience in an acute care setting preferred.  Working knowledge of InterQual IS-SI Milliman and Robertson Managed Care guidelines, Erickson Life Skills (Age Competencies), Medicare Part A and Part B, Medic-Cal NCQA, HEDIS and other criteria as identified by the Quality/Care Management Department.  Working knowledge of Care-M.A.P. development and implementation.  Working knowledge of managed care and capitation.
• Preferred Certifications:  Current and valid CA LVN.