Case Manager

Phoenix Children's Hospital, Inc.; Phoenix (AZ); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Phoenix Children\u2019s Hospital, Inc. in Phoenix, AZ is seeking a Case Manager to provide comprehensive care coordination for patients, assess plans of care, manage length of stay and discharge planning, and advocate for patients and families within the care continuum.

You will work with the interdisciplinary team to develop and monitor a discharge plan, utilize MCG guidelines, review payer denials, and ensure timely transition across inpatient and outpatient services, delivering high-quality

Responsibilities

• Manages a defined service line patient population to achieve optimal discharge and continuity of care outcomes.
• Establishes estimated Length of Stay via MCG criteria and tools.
• Completes an initial screen of all patients on admission within 24 hours using MCG criteria.
• Coordinates development and implementation of a comprehensive discharge care plan with the clinical care team.
• Ensures plan of care is in place with all team members; documents variances to impact length of stay.
• Facilitates and communicates with patient/family and escalates barriers to timely discharge.
• Reviews third‑party payer denials for in‑house patients and communicates with physicians and management per protocols.
• Maintains effective communication with the interdisciplinary care team and patients/families across the continuum of care.
• Monitors patient status daily and communicates goal length of stay to the care team and family.
• Keeps discharge information current in the EMR; assesses status and barriers to transition of care.
• Participates in interdisciplinary rounds and/or service line rounds with the clinical care team.
• Assures thorough transition/discharge plans with patients, families, payers and providers across the continuum.

Job description

The position provides comprehensive care coordination for patients as assigned and assesses the patients plan of care. The Case Manager is responsible for Length of Stay management and discharge planning. Develops, implements, monitors and documents the utilization of resources and progress of the patient through their care, advocating and facilitating options and services to meet the patients health care needs. Interacts extensively with the care teams to support the clinical roadmap. The intensity of care coordination provided is situational and appropriate based on patient need and payer requirements. This position works independently, receiving supervision of work activities from the Lead CM team, Supervisor of Case Management and Manager of Case Management and is accountable for the quality of clinical services delivered by both them and community partners and identifies/resolves barriers which may hinder effective patient care.

Position Duties

Coordination of Care

• Manages a defined service line patient population to achieve optimal discharge and continuity of care outcomes in a manner that promotes sound financial stewardship and patient-family advocacy.
• Establishes estimated Length of Stay via MCG criteria and tools.
• Completes an initial screen of all patients on admission (not to exceed within 24 hours of admission) utilizing MCG criteria to identify needs related to care coordination and/or discharge planning.
• Leveraging MCG and other evidence-based guidelines, coordinates development and implementation of a comprehensive discharge care plan in collaboration with the clinical care team.
• Ensures plan of care is in place with all team members. Proactively collaborates with members of the interdisciplinary clinical care team to define and document a clear and comprehensive treatment plan, including post-discharge needs. Identifies and facilitates resolution of variances in the plan of care that may impact length of stay. Facilitates referrals to other disciplines, and monitors for appropriate follow-up.
• Facilitates and provides on-going communication with patient/family and escalates unresolved barriers to timely discharge to Case Management, Manager or Utilization Management Medical Director, as per department protocols.
• Reviews and analyzes third‑party payer denials for in‑house patients, and communicates to attending physician, Case Management, Manager, Utilization Management Medical Director, and Utilization Management Nurse as per department protocols.
• Cultivates and maintains effective interaction/communication with members of the interdisciplinary care team and proactively engages patient and families in the delivery of care across the continuum of care.
• Reviews the patient daily for appropriate patient status, level of care and goal length of stay per established Case Management daily prioritization protocol, utilizing MCG criteria and communicates goal length of stay to clinical care team, patient and family.
• Keeps patient discharge information current in Case Manager EMR documentation. Assesses each patient’s status and activities daily as appropriate to patient needs. Ensures timeliness of care and identifies barriers to transition of care or discharge.
• Participates in interdisciplinary rounds and/or service line rounds with clinical care team.

Regulatory responsibilities

• Reviews the patient daily (Observation and Inpatient) for appropriate status and meeting admission or discharge criteria.
• Obtains and reviews necessary medical reports and subsequent treatment plan requests to conduct ongoing care planning and discharge planning.
• Utilizes MCG guidelines/pathways to determine admission status, level of care, goal length of stay and continued provision of services as evidenced by audit of documentation in EMR.
• Documents avoidable days, extended length of stay, authorizations and denials for medical necessity in SCM and SAM as evidenced by audit.
• Communicates to Utilization Management Nurse data supporting denial appeals, or notification of potential denials.
• Communicates with payers to resolve potential denials.
• Working knowledge of DRG payment methodology and ICD-9/10 coding system.
• Provides Medicare/Tricare Rights and Detailed Notice of Discharge to patient and families.

Transition / Discharge Coordination

• Assures thorough, early and ongoing transition/discharge plans by collaborating with patients, families, payers and providers across the continuum of care. Assesses patient for appropriate discharge placement. Identifies presumed discharge location on admission. Consults with social services and other resources as needs or problems are identified. Communicates transition/discharge plans and problems to other case managers as care is transitioned. Ensures that health care team is proactive in making arrangements for transition/discharge, and ensures that each transition/discharge plan has clear goals that are attainable. Ensures that all elements of patients’ needs are addressed in the transition/discharge plans. Validates that family and patient are aware and understand discharge plan as demonstrated by documentation and feedback. Ensures that education and teaching for family and patient to support transition/discharge is begun as quickly as possible with the health care team. When appropriate, performs outpatient and clinic care coordination and monitors patients care as they transition between inpatient and outpatient service.

Other Responsibilities

• Ensures that all elements of patients’ needs are addressed in the transition/discharge plans. Keeps families and patients involved and informed as demonstrated by feedback. Facilitates and provides on-going communication with patient/family and interdisciplinary staff to identify and resolve potential barriers to discharge. Communicates with payers to resolve potential denials. Responds to emails within 24 hours. Clear communication skills with all internal and external customers. Provides excellent service routinely in interactions with all customers, i.e. colleagues, patients, visitors, physicians, volunteers, etc.
• Provides unit and team leadership demonstrates strong, consistent clear communication and serves as central point of information informing all team members, including physicians, on patient status and goal length of stay. Keeps families and patients involved and informed as demonstrated by feedback. Cultivates and maintains effective interaction/communication with members of the medical staff, nursing staff, social workers, Utilization Management team and families to drive the care coordination process and to facilitate continuity of patient care.
• Performs miscellaneous job related duties as requested.

Phoenix Children's Mission, Vision, & Values

Mission

To advance hope, healing and the best healthcare for children and their families

Vision

Phoenix Children’s will be the leading pediatric health system in the Southwest, nationally recognized for exceptional care, innovative research and advanced medical education.

We realize this vision by:

• Offering the most comprehensive care across ages, communities and specialties
• Investing in innovative research, including emerging treatments, tools and technologies
• Advancing education and training to shape the next generation of clinical leaders
• Advocating for the health and well-being of children and families

Values

• We place children and families at the center of all we do
• We deliver exceptional care, every day and in every way
• We collaborate with colleagues, partners and communities to amplify our impact
• We set the standards of pediatric healthcare today, and innovate for the future
• We are accountable for making the highest quality care accessible and affordable