INPATIENT CARE MANAGER

Advocate Health • Oak Lawn, IL

1d • $38 - $57

About The Position

The Inpatient Care Manager conducts patient assessments, develops care plans, and coordinates interventions to support patient needs and organizational goals during discharge planning and transitions of care. The role works with patients, families, healthcare teams, physicians, hospital departments, and community agencies to resolve barriers, promote timely care, and ensure continuity of care in accordance with regulatory and department standards.

This is a part-time float position for 20 hours per week. The manager covers paid time off and supports high-census areas, including two Saturdays per month. Duties include care coordination, discharge planning, utilization management reviews and activities, regulatory notice delivery, referrals, documentation, payer communications, and education of medical and hospital staff. The role serves patients across the lifespan and must provide care appropriate to their age-specific needs.

Requirements

• Active Registered Nurse license issued by the state in which the team member practices.
• Bachelor’s degree in Nursing.
• Two years of clinical nursing experience.
• Ability to prioritize and organize work.
• Effective communication skills.
• Critical-thinking skills and timely decision-making ability.
• Ability to navigate an Electronic Health Record.
• Basic proficiency with MS Office products.
• Knowledge of Medicare Part A and B guidelines.
• Knowledge of Managed Care program requirements and implications.
• Ability to apply elements of Utilization Management programs.
• Ability to meet the role’s physical requirements, including sitting, standing, walking, lifting, manual dexterity, visual acuity, and verbal and hearing communication requirements.

Responsibilities

• Conduct complete assessments, establish appropriate plans, and initiate interventions within desired timeframes.
• Collaborate and negotiate with patients, families, and care teams to support patient care needs, choices, satisfaction, and organizational goals during discharge planning and transitions.
• Use patient and family strengths in problem-solving and include them and the care team in decision-making throughout the hospital stay.
• Coordinate continuity of care and discharge planning in compliance with regulatory standards, including communicating relevant options and facilitating smooth patient transfers.
• Provide case management related to healthcare, finances, housing, family discord, and adjustment to illness, within the department’s scope.
• Manage family dynamics and crisis situations professionally, use community resources, and educate patients and families about accessing and using services.
• Initiate internal and external referrals to support timely care progression and transitions.
• Document discharge planning interventions and utilization review activity according to department and medical center standards.
• Complete and document accurate, timely concurrent and retrospective reviews using approved criteria.
• Communicate effectively with the healthcare team and partner with Social Work and unlicensed support personnel to establish and implement safe care plans.
• Participate in the Outcome Facilitation Team/Patient Care Multidisciplinary Team and work with medical staff, hospital departments, and ancillary services to identify and resolve discharge barriers, avoid delays, and coordinate care planning and utilization management.
• Collaborate with managers, physicians, medical directors, advisory groups, and treatment teams on physician practices and best practices for patient care plans.
• Refer cases to a physician advisor as needed to support care progression, accurate status, and regulatory compliance.
• Maintain knowledge of healthcare regulations, reimbursement issues, length-of-stay impacts, and community resources.
• Perform utilization management activities, including providing clinical updates to payers or external review organizations, collecting data, coordinating denial activity, supporting utilization management, and managing avoidable delays.
• Deliver CMS regulatory notices within required timeframes, as appropriate to site guidelines.
• Develop and maintain relationships with community-based agencies and networks, representing Advocate Aurora Health and collaborating internally and externally to meet patient and family needs.
• Collaborate with Advocate Aurora Ambulatory Care Management and Continuing Health to meet shared goals and outcomes.
• Educate and serve as an expert resource to medical and hospital staff on admission status, acute care criteria, utilization management, care coordination, discharge planning, and regulatory requirements.
• Demonstrate knowledge of lifespan growth and development and assess and interpret patient information to provide care appropriate to age-specific needs.
• Perform other related duties as required.
• Operate equipment necessary to perform the job.

Benefits

• Paid time off programs.
• Medical, dental, vision, life, and short- and long-term disability benefits.
• Flexible Spending Accounts for eligible healthcare and dependent-care expenses.
• Adoption assistance and paid parental leave.
• Defined contribution retirement plans with employer match and other financial wellness programs.
• Educational Assistance Program.
• Competitive compensation, with potential premium pay, incentive pay for select positions, and annual performance-based increases.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time