Discharge Planner

Lehigh Valley Health Network, Inc.; Allentown (Lehigh County); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Lehigh Valley Health Network, Inc. invites applications for a Discharge Planner to support safe and timely transitions from hospital to home or alternate care settings.

You will coordinate post-acute services and ensure appropriate scheduling linked to payer requirements. The role emphasizes collaboration with inpatient care managers, RNs, social workers, and physicians to secure authorizations and arrange home health, transportation, and follow-up services while maintaining HIPAA and regulatory

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in healthcare related field.
• 2 years of experience in healthcare related field or Less than 1 year as a new graduate.
• Knowledge of the techniques and the ability to work with a variety of individuals and groups in a constructive and collaborative manner.
• Ability to manage multiple concurrent objectives, projects, groups, or activities, prioritizing time allocation.
• Computer and EHR literate; knowledge of patient appointment and procedure scheduling rules, insurance, Medicare/Medicaid, HIPAA, and medical terminology.

Responsibilities

• Coordinates safe and timely discharge by arranging post-acute services including home health, DME, transportation and community resources in collaboration with care management staff.
• Obtains payer authorization for level of care, length of stay, and post-discharge services; communicates determinations of denials to the care manager.
• Documents discharge planning activities in the medical record to ensure regulatory compliance.
• Reviews Medicare Notice of Hospital Discharge for hospital admissions.
• Acts as liaison between patients, families, providers, payers, and community agencies.
• Monitors intra-facility transfers and coordinates authorization, transportation and repatriation of patients.

Skills

Discharge planning

Care coordination

Payer communication

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in healthcare related field

Tools

EHR/EMR systems

Job description

Imagine a career at one of the nation’s most advanced health networks.

Be part of an exceptional health care experience. Join the inspired, passionate team at Lehigh Valley Health Network, a nationally recognized, forward-thinking organization offering plenty of opportunity to do great work.

LVHN has been ranked among the “Best Hospitals” by U.S. News & World Report for 23 consecutive years. We’re a Magnet(tm) Hospital, having been honored five times with the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s prestigious distinction for nursing excellence and quality patient outcomes in our Lehigh Valley region. Finally, Lehigh Valley Hospital - Cedar Crest, Lehigh Valley Hospital - Muhlenberg, Lehigh Valley Hospital- Hazleton, and Lehigh Valley Hospital - Pocono each received an ‘A’ grade on the Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group in 2020, the highest grade in patient safety. These recognitions highlight LVHN’s commitment to teamwork, compassion, and technology with an unrelenting focus on delivering the best health care possible every day.

Whether you’re considering your next career move or your first, you should consider Lehigh Valley Health Network.

Summary

The Discharge Planner facilitates safe, timely, and cost-effective transitions of care by coordinating all post-acute service and appointment needs for patients on the assigned unit. Working collaboratively with providers, care managers, and interdisciplinary team members, the discharge planner ensures that follow-up physician, laboratory, procedural, and financial appointments are accurately scheduled and linked to appropriate orders and payor requirements. This role communicates with third-party payers to secure authorization for inpatient and post-acute services. The Discharge Planner also assesses psychosocial and environmental factors affecting recovery, provides education and referrals to community resources, and supports patients and families in coping with the transition from hospital to home or another level of care.

Job Duties

• Coordinates safe and timely discharge by arranging necessary post-acute services including home health, DME, transportation, infusion services, specialty populations (dialysis, VBR, etc.) and community-based resources in collaboration with the inpatient care manager RN, MSW, Social Services Coordinator, or Social worker BSW.
• Obtains payer authorization for appropriate level of care, length of stay, and post-discharge services; ensures timely submission of clinical information and communicates payer determinations of denials to the care manager.
• Documents all discharge planning activities including authorizations, communications, and service arrangements promptly and accurately in the medical record to ensure regulatory and organizational compliance.
• Reviews and completes Medicare Notice of Hospital Discharge with inpatient and behavioral health hospital admissions for beneficiaries in hospital.
• Acts as a liaison between patients, families, healthcare providers, payers, and community agencies to support smooth transitions of care and ensure continuity post-discharge.
• Monitors and assists with intra-facility and acute care hospital transfers by collaborating with care management, utilization management and transfer center colleagues to initiate authorization, transportation and repatriation of medically stable patients.
• Communicates, escalates, and prioritizes transportation needs between care management colleagues and the transfer center
• Completes required delivery and documentation for regulatory documents.(Facility specific)
• Coordinates payer interactions with physician advisors when necessary.
• Completes admission assessments under the supervision of a inpatient care manager RN, MSW, Social Services Coordinator, or Social worker BSW.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in healthcare related field.
• 2 years of experience in healthcare related field or
• Less than 1 year as a new graduate.
• Knowledge of the techniques and the ability to work with a variety of individuals and groups in a constructive and collaborative manner.
• Ability to manage multiple concurrent objectives, projects, groups, or activities, making effective judgments as to prioritizing and time allocation.
• Computer and EHR literate. Knowledge of patient appointment and procedure scheduling rules, insurance, Medicare and Medicaid, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), and medical terminology.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in social work.
• Knowledge of discharge planning regulations, patient choice, and insurance authorization as needed,
• Familiar with electronic health records and documentation.
• Familiar with medical terminology.

Physical Demands

Lift and carry 40-50 lbs. Examples: Push/pull patients on bed, stretcher (requires 29 lbs. push force), lateral transfers up to 50 lbs. of the patient’s weight. Frequent to continuous standing/walking. Patient transporters can walk 8-10 miles per shift. *Patient care providers may be required to perform activities specific to their role including kneeling, bending, squatting and performing CPR.

Job Description Disclaimer: This position description provides the major duties/responsibilities, requirements and working conditions for the position. It is intended to be an accurate reflection of the current position, however management reserves the right to revise or change as necessary to meet organizational needs. Other responsibilities may be assigned when circumstances require.

Lehigh Valley Health Network is an equal opportunity employer. In accordance with, and where applicable, in addition to federal, state and local employment regulations, Lehigh Valley Health Network will provide employment opportunities to all persons without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or other such protected classes as may be defined by law. All personnel actions and programs will adhere to this policy. Personnel actions and programs include, but are not limited to recruitment, selection, hiring, transfers, promotions, terminations, compensation, benefits, educational programs and/or social activities.

Work Shift

Day Shift

Address

1200 S Cedar Crest Blvd

Primary Location

Lehigh Valley Hospital- Cedar Crest

Position Type

Onsite

Union

Not Applicable

Work Schedule

Monday-Friday; 8:00a-4:30p, Weekend and holiday rotation

Department

1004-09452 Case Management - CC