Inpatient Care Manager - MSW

Lehigh Valley Hospital; Pottsville (Schuylkill County); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Lehigh Valley Health Network seeks an Inpatient Care Manager with MSW to coordinate comprehensive care across the continuum for a designated patient population. You will assess, plan, implement, and evaluate individualized care plans while ensuring safe discharge planning and minimizing unnecessary utilization.

You will collaborate with interdisciplinary teams, manage resources, and support performance improvement to enhance patient care and system efficiency.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Social Work required.
• Experience in MSW internship programs preferred (<1 year).
• Ability to interact with persons from diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to coordinate care plans efficiently.

Responsibilities

• Conducts comprehensive assessments at patient entry to determine anticipated length of stay, discharge needs, and resources; develop and implement 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, participates in multidisciplinary rounds, identifies and resolves barriers to discharge.
• Advocates for patients and families, addressing clinical, educational, and psychosocial needs while reflecting their preferences throughout the care continuum.
• Colllaborates with multidisciplinary teams and provides the patient/family with development and implementation of plans; coordinates conferences to facilitate care progression; refers to community-based services/resources.
• 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, telephonic, and electronic engagement; supports adherence to discharge plans.
• Communicates effectively with physicians, patients, families, and team members to facilitate referrals, authorizations, and resolution of medical necessity issues.
• Initiates or ensures medical assistance applications as needed; follows up with external services regarding applications.
• Maintains current knowledge of payer systems and participation requirements.
• Delivers required regulatory notices within established times.

Skills

Leadership skills

Analytical tools

Diversity & inclusion

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Computer applications

Education

Master's degree in Social Work

Tools

EPIC EHR

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, squa