Discharge Planning Assistant

Saint Peter's Healthcare System•New Brunswick, NJ

About The Position

The Discharge Planning Assistant supports the Care Coordination team by arranging discharge-related services and coordinating information among patients, families, providers, facilities, and staff. The role initiates referrals for subacute, acute, psychiatric, homecare, and durable medical equipment (DME) services; obtains authorizations when appropriate; and coordinates patient transportation. The assistant gathers information about patients’ prior placements and plans of care after discharge, provides timely updates on Medicaid and other insurance details that may affect care, and contacts community resources such as homeless shelters and drug treatment programs to check bed availability. The role also schedules physician follow-up appointments when instructed, documents them in the EMR, endorses them to the Care Coordination Nurse, and informs the patient. Administrative duties include printing, copying, and faxing documents and files.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Social Sciences, or a related field.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
Ability to organize and manage multiple time-sensitive tasks.
Ability to simultaneously cover multiple patient care assignment areas involving various ages, populations, and diagnoses.

Nice To Haves

Hospital experience.
Direct experience with patients.

Responsibilities

Initiate referrals for subacute, acute, psychiatric, homecare, and DME services to identified providers.
Print, copy, and fax documentation and files.
Obtain authorizations when appropriate.
Coordinate patient transportation and serve as a point of contact.
Communicate with providers, facilities, and patients’ families to obtain information about prior placements and plans of care after discharge.
Provide staff with timely and accurate updates about Medicaid or other insurance details that could affect patient care.
Call physician offices to schedule follow-up appointments when instructed; document appointments in the EMR, endorse them to the Care Coordination Nurse, and inform the patient.
Contact community resources, including homeless shelters and drug treatment programs, to determine bed availability.
Serve as a key resource for the Care Coordination Team.

Benefits

Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
Savings accounts and voluntary benefits.
Wellness programs and discounts.
Paid life insurance.
Generous 401(k) match.
Adoption assistance.
Back-up daycare.
Free onsite parking.
Recognition rewards.
Fully paid tuition program or tuition assistance program.
Some positions may be eligible for clinical certification pay and shift differentials.