Care Manager / Weekend Option

Emory Healthcare•Decatur, GA

12d•$34 - $40

About The Position

The Social Work Care Manager I Weekend Option (SW CM I WEO) coordinates patient care from admission through discharge, supporting smooth transitions from the hospital and high-quality clinical and cost outcomes. The role secures post-acute services, coordinates and advocates for patients and families with internal and external stakeholders, and identifies barriers to care coordination and discharge planning to promote efficient care delivery and maximize reimbursement. The Care Manager begins coordination at admission by completing a thorough admission and/or psychosocial assessment and developing a timely discharge plan. As an integral member of the interdisciplinary care team, the Care Manager attends rounds, care conferences, and care team meetings. The role represents both the hospital care team and the patient or family, balancing their preferences and choices with projected care needs and the ability to arrange services. The Care Manager identifies and refers patients to appropriate post-acute providers, coordinating with patients, families, and the care team. Through continuous assessment and critical review, the role ensures post-acute services remain appropriate as the patient’s condition changes. The discharge plan must align with the medically cleared discharge date and the projected length of stay provided by the payor. The Care Manager also develops and participates in strategies to reduce unnecessary length of stay and resource use, escalating cases when appropriate to management, the Physician Advisor, the Complex Care team, or the Ethics committee. The role educates patients, families, and the care team about post-acute services, transitions of care, readmission mitigation, appropriate levels of post-acute care, and available resources. It provides supportive and therapeutic communication to people experiencing anxiety or stress related to illness, injury, or physical limitations, and responds to suspected violence, assault, abuse, or neglect in accordance with social work professional ethics. In collaboration with Utilization Review, the Care Manager initiates and facilitates discussions with payors, advocating for the patient and hospital to reduce non-covered, non-authorized, or denied services. The role advises physicians, the interdisciplinary care team, and patients on external regulations and organizational policies and procedures related to discharge planning and care coordination. It ensures compliance with government and commercial payor requirements and federal and state regulations, and proper use of case management systems and workflows. The position requires meeting quality and productivity expectations and successfully completing yearly competencies.

Requirements

Master’s degree in Social Work from an accredited institution.
Working knowledge of software and EEMR applications.
Must meet quality and productivity expectations and successfully complete yearly competencies.

Nice To Haves

One year of recent healthcare experience preferred.
Acute care setting experience preferred.
ACM or CCM certification preferred.

Responsibilities

Coordinate patient care from admission through discharge and facilitate smooth transitions of care.
Complete admission and/or psychosocial assessments and begin discharge planning promptly.
Attend interdisciplinary rounds, care conferences, and care team meetings.
Represent the hospital care team and the patient or family while balancing preferences, care needs, and service availability.
Identify appropriate post-acute services, complete referrals in a timely manner, and coordinate with patients, families, providers, and the care team.
Continuously assess whether post-acute services remain appropriate as the patient’s clinical condition progresses.
Align discharge plans with the medically cleared discharge date and payor-projected length of stay.
Identify and participate in strategies to reduce unnecessary length of stay and resource consumption.
Escalate cases as appropriate to management, the Physician Advisor, Complex Care team, and/or Ethics committee.
Educate patients, families, and care team members about post-acute services, transitions, readmission mitigation, levels of care, and available resources.
Provide supportive and therapeutic communication to patients and families experiencing stress related to illness, injury, or physical limitations.
Respond to suspected violent, assault, abuse, and/or neglect cases in accordance with social work professional ethics.
Collaborate with Utilization Review to facilitate payor discussions and advocate to reduce non-covered, non-authorized, or denied services.
Serve as a resource on external regulations and organizational policies and procedures concerning discharge planning and care coordination.
Ensure compliance with government and commercial payor requirements and federal and state regulatory requirements.
Use case management systems and workflows properly.
Meet quality and productivity expectations and successfully complete yearly competencies.