DISCHARGE PLANNER

UHS•Louisville, KY

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Discharge Planner is responsible for providing direct and indirect client care, including psychotherapeutic services to clients and families. This role serves as a member of the interdisciplinary team, supporting the facility’s treatment program and philosophy. The Discharge Planner is the primary liaison between the facility and outside agencies for discharge planning, abuse reporting, and continuum of care functions. Key responsibilities include facilitating timely referrals, assisting with applications, communicating with referral providers, documenting case management contacts, and participating in multi-agency meetings to ensure a smooth discharge process. The role also involves coordinating with Utilization Review for necessary authorizations and travel, maintaining shared files for tracking referrals, and updating providers on patient status. The Discharge Planner participates in problem-solving for discharge changes, coordinates travel arrangements, and schedules discharge appointments. They maintain thorough documentation, ensuring progress notes are completed within 24 hours of contact and discharge appointments are documented. Additionally, the role involves participating in community activities to build relationships with providers and working collaboratively with the Utilization Review and clinical teams. Regular phone contact with referral services and outpatient providers is expected.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree is required.
Must be able to perform assignments with minimal supervision.
Must be able to work successfully under highly stressful conditions.
Ability to make sound, independent judgments based on scientific and/or ethical principles.
Capability of adapting to varying workloads and work assignments on a constant basis.
Effective comprehensive reading skills, strong communication skills, written and verbal.
Must have a working knowledge of computers.
Must be willing and able to execute the patient de-escalation methods, both verbal and physical.
Must be able to complete new hire requirements such as State of Alaska Background Check and Drug Testing.
Must be able to demonstrate special training, knowledge and skills specific to age groups, as well as job and/or program specific competency within the first three (3) months of training.
Must be certified in CPR and Handle with Care within the first month of training and annually thereafter.
Must complete all mandatory in-services annually.
Must be tested for Tuberculosis with PPD skin test or chest x-ray upon hire; PPD skin test required annually or chest x-ray annually thereafter.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s in social work, psychology, or related field is preferred.
One year post degree experience preferred.

Responsibilities

Facilitates timely referrals to alternate levels of care and assists family and/or guardian with completion of applications.
Communicates with referral providers about new referrals and ensures that the facility has all necessary information to consider a referral; assists with ensuring that all receiving providers have all necessary clinical materials and information.
Documents case management contacts in progress notes, communicates with therapists/treatment team about contact and updates on the status of discharge planning.
Works with involved agencies by arranging and participating in multi-agency meetings as needed to facilitate a smooth discharge.
Works with Utilization Review to establish prior authorization, travel, insurance application, etc. is coordinated for a timely discharge.
Maintains a shared file where information is updated to review status of faxes, referrals, etc; maintains contact with current providers to update them on the status of patient/course of hospitalization and to obtain information from provider to share with treatment team.
Participates in problem-solving regarding abrupt changes in discharge, coordinates and communicates the discharge plan.
Coordinates travel arrangements as directed by the therapists and communicates all information to therapists in a timely manner; contacts family with travel information and provides copies of necessary travel documents to family if directed by the therapist/treatment team.
Coordinates discharge appointments and communicates to therapist and family if directed by therapist/treatment team.
Maintains documentation on all cases; ensuring progress notes on all case management contact/discharge planning efforts are completed no later than 24 hours after the contact; documents discharge appointments in the discharge paperwork.
Participates in community activities as requested by the Director of Social Services to build relationships with community providers.
Serves as an effective team member and works closely with the Utilization Review team and clinical team.
Makes phone contacts with referral services and outpatient providers weekly.
Performs other duties as assigned.