Inpatient Care Manager - MSW
About The Position
The Inpatient Care Manager-MSW coordinates comprehensive care for a designated patient population across the continuum of care. The role assesses, plans, implements, and evaluates individualized care plans and supports safe, timely discharge planning. Acting as a clinician, care manager, and educator, the position collaborates with the interdisciplinary team to achieve high-quality, cost-effective outcomes, manage resources, minimize unnecessary utilization, and support performance improvement initiatives. The position is based at Lehigh Valley Hospital–Schuylkill in an onsite setting. The listed schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with rotations of holidays and weekends and on-call coverage. For colleagues working in New Jersey, an LSW or LCSW license is required upon hire.
Requirements
- Master’s degree in Social Work.
- Less than one year of experience in an MSW internship program.
- Ability to incorporate strategies for interacting with people from diverse backgrounds.
- Ability to set priorities and coordinate care plans efficiently.
- Knowledge of computer applications and analytical tools.
- Proven leadership skills.
- For colleagues working in New Jersey: LSW or LCSW license upon hire.
Nice To Haves
- Familiarity with EHRs, specifically EPIC.
- ACM (Accredited Case Manager) certification from the American Case Management Association within three years, or CCM (Certified Case Manager) certification from the Commission for Case Manager Certification within three years.
Responsibilities
- Conduct comprehensive assessments at patient entry to determine anticipated length of stay, discharge needs, and resources; develop and implement individualized care and transition plans with the multidisciplinary team.
- Coordinate safe, timely discharge planning, including obtaining post-acute authorizations, arranging transportation, homecare, and facility placements, and facilitating transfers when needed.
- Review patient progress daily, participate in multidisciplinary rounds, and identify and resolve barriers to discharge.
- Advocate for patients and families, address clinical, educational, and psychosocial needs, and ensure patient preferences are reflected throughout the care continuum.
- Collaborate with multidisciplinary healthcare teams and patients or families to develop and implement plans; coordinate team or family conferences when needed.
- Refer patients or significant others to community-based services and resources to meet care-continuum needs.
- Maintain knowledge of Medicare, Medicaid, and other payer benefits, reimbursement methodologies, and conditions of participation.
- Educate patients and families through in-person, telephone, and electronic engagement to support self-management and adherence to discharge care plans.
- Communicate with physicians, patients, families, and team members to facilitate referrals and authorizations, resolve medical-necessity issues, and coordinate transitions and discharge planning.
- Initiate medical assistance applications when needed, or ensure external agencies have initiated them, and follow up with the relevant external services.
- Deliver required regulatory notices within established timeframes, as applicable to the facility.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
