Patient Discharge Coordinator (Behavioral Health) (Bachelor's Level)

McClendon Center • Washington, DC

4d • $51,395 - $55,678

About The Position

The Patient Discharge Coordinator supports behavioral health clients during inpatient admission and discharge and helps coordinate their transition back to outpatient care and the community. The role responds to admission notifications 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on a rotating basis, travels to inpatient units, engages clients, obtains required documentation, and coordinates follow-up with outpatient providers. The coordinator maintains communication with inpatient units and treatment teams, monitors clients before and after discharge, gathers medication information and discharge dates, and completes required documentation in the electronic medical record.

The position also transports clients to fill prescriptions and to their residences, explains medication purposes, and schedules follow-up visits to clients’ homes or residences until they have kept their psychiatric appointment. Additional work includes behavioral health and substance-use service coordination, client advocacy, clinical support to the team, interventions that promote wellness and self-management, and developing links with other support systems. A valid driver’s license and working vehicle are required.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Two to four years of relevant experience.
• Valid driver’s license and a working vehicle at all times, with minimum insurance coverage required by state law.
• Ability to respond to admission notifications on a rotating 24-hour, 7-day basis.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with hospital discharges and community integration.
• Experience working in a psychiatric setting in a hospital or clinic.

Responsibilities

• Respond to admission notifications 24 hours per day, 7 days per week on a rotating basis.
• Travel to inpatient units within the required time frame to engage with clients after admission.
• Obtain signed release forms and other required documentation and coordinate appropriate follow-up care with clients’ outpatient providers.
• Conduct brief psychosocial intakes and enter and scan notes and documents into the electronic medical record.
• Liaise with clients’ outpatient providers and communicate relevant information about admissions and discharges.
• Maintain daily telephone contact with inpatient units and visit units as assigned by the Clinical Manager.
• Observe clients before and after discharge, communicate with inpatient treatment teams, obtain updated medication lists, and confirm discharge dates where appropriate.
• Complete discharge documents and required reports and upload them into clients’ electronic medical records.
• Transport clients to fill prescriptions, review reasons for taking medication, and provide transportation to their residences.
• Schedule visits to clients’ homes or residences after discharge until they have kept their psychiatric appointments.
• Coordinate behavioral health, substance abuse, and health care services using evidence-based clinical practice guidelines.
• Coordinate access to preventive and health-promotion services and chronic illness management, including self-management support for clients and families.
• Advocate for and support clients, engaging with community agencies and health care providers to help ensure access to needed services.
• Provide clinical support to the team through consultation, education, and information about psychosocial and substance-abuse conditions, interventions, and resources.
• Provide consumer interventions, including skills development; crisis intervention; substance-abuse assessment, education, and referral; financial and household management; preventive health and mental health; educational and vocational assessment and planning; and resource generation.
• Develop linkages with other support systems.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Competitive annual salary of $51,395–$55,678, based on relevant work experience.
• Professional support and career development.
• Comprehensive benefits including health and wellness, four weeks of combined sick and vacation leave, 403(b) retirement contributions, and life insurance.
• Laptop and iPhone.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level