Emergency Department Case Manager

Mount Nittany Health • State College, PA

5d

About The Position

The Emergency Department Case Manager works independently and collaboratively to ensure appropriate use of resources for patients across the continuum of care. As an integral member of the ED care team, the case manager provides strategic guidance to clinical and operations staff to help ensure patients are placed at the correct level of care, with clear orders and treatment plans. The role requires understanding ED care and patient flow, including the demands of high volume, rapid turnover, and patient and family expectations.

The case manager evaluates patients who will remain in the hospital, completes the initial InterQual assessment, and helps arrange outpatient follow-up plans for patients discharged from the ED. For behavioral health patients, the case manager assesses the patient and collaborates with the ED physician to determine safety risk, appropriate level of care, and voluntary or involuntary status. The case manager communicates with family members and other relevant individuals to gather information needed to support the best possible patient outcome, including understanding ED flow as it relates to behavioral health patients.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field.
• At least two years of current health care experience, preferably in acute care.
• Knowledge of hospital admitting procedures, health care legislation, and government or regulatory health-related agencies.
• Ability to communicate effectively, express ideas clearly, and listen actively.
• Ability to work with others to resolve interpersonal conflicts and problems without requiring intervention from superiors.
• Ability to collaborate with physicians and other members of the health care team.
• Ability to identify and solve problems, with demonstrated critical-thinking skills.
• Computer skills.
• Meets the American Heart Association’s standards for Healthcare Provider Basic Life Support (BLS) and renews BLS every two years.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work or Psychology.
• Previous psychiatric experience.
• Utilization management experience.
• Experience with care protocols.
• An Associate Degree in Social Work or Psychology with at least eight years of acute care clinical experience or four years of care manager or case manager experience may be considered.

Responsibilities

• Promote appropriate utilization of resources for patients across the continuum of care.
• Advise ED clinical and operations staff to support placement at the correct level of care and clear orders and treatment plans.
• Evaluate patients who will remain in the hospital and complete the initial InterQual assessment.
• Assist with outpatient follow-up plans for patients discharged from the ED.
• Assess behavioral health patients and collaborate with the ED physician to determine safety risk, appropriate level of care, and voluntary or involuntary status.
• Communicate with family members and other relevant individuals to gather information needed for patient care.
• Collaborate with members of the health care team and support patient flow in the ED, including for behavioral health patients.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time