Inpatient Care Manager - MSW

1004 Lehigh Valley Hospital; Easton (Northampton County); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Lehigh Valley Health Network seeks an Inpatient Care Manager-MS W to coordinate comprehensive care across the continuum for designated patients. This role functions as clinician, care manager, and educator within the interdisciplinary team to achieve high-quality outcomes and efficient discharge planning.

The position emphasizes minimizing unnecessary utilization, ensuring timely transitions, and contributing to performance improvement initiatives across LVHN facilities.

Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in Social Work.
• Less than 1 year experience In an MSW internship program.
• Ability to interact with persons from diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to set priorities to coordinate care plans efficiently.
• Knowledge of computer applications and analytical tools.
• Proven leadership skills.

Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive assessments at entry to determine LOS, discharge needs and resources; develop and implement individualized care plans with the multidisciplinary team.
• Coordinate safe and timely discharge planning, including post-acute authorizations, transportation, homecare, and facility placements.
• Monitor and manage patient progress through daily reviews and multidisciplinary rounds; identify and resolve barriers to discharge.
• Advocate for patients and families; address clinical, educational, and psychosocial needs; reflect preferences in care continuum.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and provide patient/family in development and implementation of plans.
• Coordinate team/family conferences to facilitate care progression.
• Refer patients to community-based services/resources for continuum of care needs.
• Develop and maintain knowledge of Medicare, Medicaid, and payer benefits/reimbursement methodologies.
• Assist patients with self-management via in-person, telephonic, and electronic education; encourage adherence to discharge plans.
• Communicate with physicians, patients, families, and team members to facilitate referrals, authorizations, and coordination of discharge.
• Initiate medical assistance applications when needed; follow up with external services regarding applications.
• Maintain current knowledge of Medicare/Medicaid and other payer systems.
• Deliver regulatory notices within established times as applicable to facility.

Skills

Care coordination

Discharge planning

Leadership

Communication

Education

Master’s Degree in Social Work

Tools

EPIC

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 Inpatient Care Manager-MSW applies expertise to coordinate comprehensive care for a designated patient population across the continuum of care. This role involves assessing, planning, implementing, and evaluating individualized care plans while ensuring safe and timely discharge planning. The Inpatient Care Manager - MSW serves as a clinician, care manager, and educator, collaborating with the interdisciplinary team to achieve high-quality, cost-effective outcomes. Additionally, the individual actively manages resources to minimize unnecessary utilization and supports performance improvement initiatives to enhance patient care and system efficiency.

Job Duties

• Conducts comprehensive assessments at the patient entry to determine anticipated length of stay, discharge needs, and resources; develops and implements individualized plans of care and transition plans in collaboration with the multidisciplinary team.
• Coordinates safe and timely discharge planning, including securing post-acute authorizations, arranging transportation, homecare, and facility placements, and facilitating transfers when needed.
• Monitors and manages patient progress through daily review, participating in multidisciplinary rounds, initiative-taking identification and resolution of barriers to discharge.
• Advocates for patients and families, addresses clinical, educational, and psychosocial needs while ensuring their preferences are reflected throughout the care continuum.
• Collaborates with multidisciplinary healthcare teams and provides the patient and/or family in the development and implementation of plans.
• Coordinates team and/or family conferences when necessary to facilitate patient’s care progression.
• Refers patient/significant other to community-based services/resources to meet patient’s continuum of care needs.
• Develops and maintains knowledge of Medicare, Medicaid, and key payer benefits and reimbursement methodologies.
• Assists patients/families with self-management through education via in person visits, telephonic and electronic engagement and encourages and supports patient adherence to their discharge care plans.
• Communicates effectively with physicians, patients, families, and team members to facilitate referrals, authorizations, and resolution of medical necessity issues and coordination of transition and discharge planning.
• When necessary, initiates medical assistance application in a timely manner, as needed, or ensure medical assistance application has been initiated by identified external agencies, as needed.
• Follows up with identified external service regarding application.
• Maintains current knowledge of Medicare, Medicaid, and other payer systems, including benefits, reimbursement methodologies, and conditions of participation.
• Delivers required regulatory notices, within established times (as applicable to facility).

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in Social Work.
• Less than 1 year experience In an MSW internship program.
• Ability to incorporate strategies for interacting with persons from diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to set priorities to coordinate care plans efficiently.
• Knowledge of computer applications and analytical tools.
• Proven leadership skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiar with EHRs: EPIC.
• ACM - Accredited Case Manager - American Case Management Association within 3 Years or CCM - Certified Case Manager - Commission for Case Manager Certification within 3 Years

Additional Qualifications

Colleague's working in the state of New Jersey only, are required to hold one of the following licenses upon hire: LSW or LCSW.

Physical Demands

Lift and carry 25 lbs. frequent sitting/standing, frequent keyboard use, *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.

https://youtu.be/GD67a9hIXUY

Lehigh Valley Health Network does not accept unsolicited agency resumes.

Lehigh Valley Health Network is not responsible for any agency fees related to unsolicited resumes.

Work Shift

Day Shift

Address

2545 Schoenersville Rd

Primary Location

Lehigh Valley Hospital- Muhlenberg

Position Type

Onsite

Union

Not Applicable

Work Schedule

Monday-Friday; 8:00a-4:30p weekend rotation/holiday rotation/oncall

Department

1004-06141 Case Management - Muhl

Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) is the region’s largest employer and health care provider of choice. Our nearly 20,000 health care professionals take pride in what they do and are driven by our mission to heal, comfort and care for the people of our community. LVHN is honored to be certified as a Great Place to Work®. LVHN’s culture of trust – and the positive things colleagues said about working at LVHN when surveyed by Great Place to Work and Fortune – align perfectly with what makes a great workplace. This designation tells you that LVHN is a great place to work from hire to retire. If you are someone who aligns with LVHN’s core values – Compassion, Integrity, Collaboration and Excellence – you will have a rewarding and successful career here.