Discharge Planner Assistant

Willapa Harbor Hospital•South Bend, WA

3d•$24 - $39•Onsite

About The Position

The Discharge Planner Assistant helps arrange services and social service referrals for patients who need support with appropriate care after discharge, promoting continuity of care and timely discharge. The role also supports timely insurance authorizations to optimize hospital revenue and enters patient charges for emergency department services, IV therapy, and observation services. The assistant documents interactions, interprets information from other departments, follows hospital policies, and communicates with patients, families, providers, insurance carriers, and other internal and external contacts.

Requirements

High school graduate or equivalent.
Washington State Nursing Assistant Certification (NAC).
Current BLS certification.

Nice To Haves

Experience in a healthcare field.
Knowledge of medical terminology.
Experience as a discharge planner or in a mental health or social service field.

Responsibilities

Participate in morning rounds with physicians, nursing staff, and the discharge planner to identify whether discharge services may be needed.
At the discharge planner’s request, help coordinate referrals and resources for physicians, nursing staff, patients, and families.
Use knowledge of referral resources within the service area.
Obtain written authorizations to release information for discharge-planning referrals.
Obtain insurance authorizations for inpatient, outpatient, and observation patients across healthcare plans; contact insurers and navigate their websites to determine authorization requirements.
Provide insurance carriers with relevant patient health information needed to authorize requested examinations and procedures.
Follow up on insurance coverage denials and, with assistance from the Discharge Planner RN, notify the provider and patient when appropriate.
Communicate promptly with insurance carriers, internal and external customers, and patients by phone and electronically.
Assist with daily faxing and calls to hospitals to promote swing-bed services and obtain referrals.
Submit last-minute requests for add-on or urgent procedures to appropriate insurance carriers for observation patients.
Coordinate with the discharge planner regarding patient plans, referrals, and related information, sharing it with families, nursing staff, physicians, and others who need to know.
Include family members or significant others in planning activities with the patient’s permission.
Maintain working relationships with referral agencies and other relevant contacts.
Protect patient dignity and confidentiality and serve as a patient advocate.
Help keep the Allevant dashboard and task matrix updated.
Respond to crisis and emergency situations by providing emotional support to patients, families, and staff within the scope of practice.
Enter patient charges for emergency department services, IV therapy, and observation services.
Adapt to changing patient needs and demonstrate appropriate judgment and decision-making.
Participate in community committees, meetings, or groups related to patient health and welfare.