Discharge Planner

Lehigh Valley Health Network, Inc.; Allentown, Northern (Lehigh County, KY); Hybrid; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) seeks a Discharge Planner to coordinate post-acute needs and ensure timely discharge from the hospital. You will partner with inpatient care managers, social workers, and physicians to arrange home health, DME, transportation, and other services while aligning with payor requirements.

The role emphasizes collaboration, regulatory compliance, and patient-centered transitions from hospital to home or alternative care settings.

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 HIPAA, medical terminology, and insurance concepts.
• Computer and EHR literate; familiar with scheduling rules for appointments/procedures.

Responsibilities

• Coordinates safe and timely discharge by arranging post-acute services and transportation.
• Obtains payer authorization for level of care and post-discharge services.
• Documents discharge planning activities in the medical record for regulatory compliance.
• Reviews Medicare Notice of Hospital Discharge for inpatient and behavioral health admissions.
• Acts as liaison between patients, families, providers, payers, and community agencies.
• Monitors intra-facility transfers and coordinates transportation and repatriation of patients.
• Communicates and prioritizes transportation needs with care management and transfer centers.
• Completes regulatory documentation and admission assessments under supervision.

Skills

HIPAA knowledge

EHR literacy

Scheduling rules knowledge

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in healthcare related field

Bachelor’s Degree in social work

Tools

Electronic Health Records (EHR)

Job description

**Join a team that delivers excellence.**Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) is home to nearly 23,000 colleagues who make up our talented, vibrant and diverse workforce.Join our team and experience firsthand what it's like to be part of a healthcare organization that's nationally recognized, forward-thinking and offers plenty of opportunity to do great work.Imagine a career at one of the nation's most advanced health networks.Be part of an exceptional healthcare 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 healthcare 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. **Additional Qualifications** **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.