Registered Nurse (RN) Complex Case Manager

Aurora Health Care; Milwaukee (WI); On-site; USD 75,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Advocate Health seeks an experienced care manager to optimize discharge planning for clinically complex patients in Milwaukee. You will coordinate with the care team, families, and community resources to ensure timely transitions and compliant care delivery.

Responsibilities include data analysis on outcomes, mentoring frontline staff, documenting interventions, and guiding physicians and social work partners to improve patient safety and resource use.

Qualifications

• Ability to prioritize and organize work.
• Effective communication skills.
• Utilization of critical thinking and timely decision making.
• Ability to navigate the electronic health record.

Responsibilities

• Perform thorough patient assessments and develop care plans for clinically complex discharges.
• Aggregate, analyze, and report data on patient outcomes and resource utilization.
• Provide continuity of care and discharge planning compliant with regulatory standards.
• Mentor frontline care management staff and lead quality improvement initiatives.
• Coordinate internal and external referrals to ensure timely progression of care.

Skills

Prioritization/organization

Communication skills

Critical thinking

Electronic health records

MS Office

Medicare guidelines

Utilization management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in nursing

Job description

Major Responsibilities

navigate through a team of complex discharges

navigate through a team of complex discharges

smaller case load to allow to focus on the most complex discharges

with medical complexity navigation

• Perform thorough patient assessments, identifying critical health issues and implement targeted interventions and patient-family centered care plans to achieve optimal health outcomes. Collaborate and negotiate effectively with clinically complex patients, family and the clinical team while striving to achieve patient and organizational goals regarding care needs, choices, and satisfaction during discharge planning and care transitions.
• Aggregate, analyze, interpret and report data on patient outcomes and resource utilization. Facilitate reporting of utilization monitoring and review activities to relevant committees and stakeholders
• Provide continuity of care and discharge planning services for clinically complex patients compliant with regulatory standards. Offers coordinated, relevant options and services based on assessed needs to ensure patient, families, and the healthcare team are informed and prepared to proceed with accountabilities in a timely manner. Participate in the communication processes to facilitate smooth transitions for patients, families, and staff during patient transfers.
• Provide advanced clinical guidance and mentorship to frontline care management team members fostering a culture of excellence and continuous improvement. Lead initiatives aimed at enhancing care quality, patient safety, and overall healthcare delivery efficiency.
• Advocate for patients and their families to ensure their voices are heard and their needs are met within the healthcare system while optimizing the utilization of hospital resources ensuring cost-effective care delivery and adherence to regulatory guidelines.
• Initiate internal and external referrals to assure timely progression of care and transitions for clinically complex patients. Document discharge planning interventions and utilization review activity according to department and organization standards in a timely manner. Perform and document accurate and timely concurrent and retrospective reviews for clinically complex patients based on approved criteria by department standards.
• Communicate effectively with the healthcare team regarding clinically complex patients. Partner with Social Work and unlicensed support personnel to effectively establish and implement a safe plan of care. Serves as a leader of the multidisciplinary rounds and work closely with clinical team members, hospital departments and ancillary services to identify and resolve barriers to discharge, expedite care delivery to avoid delays in timely service provision, and implement and report on care coordination and discharge planning.
• As an expert in care management of clinically complex patients, collaborate and lead discussions with managers, physicians, medical directors, advisory groups, and treatment teams for issues related to physician practices and best practices for the patient care plans. Refer cases to physician advisors as needed to ensure efficient progression of care, accurate status, and compliance with regulatory guidelines. Maintain knowledge of healthcare regulations, reimbursement issues, impact on length of stay and community-based resources. Deliver CMS regulatory notices within CMS established timeframes, as appropriate based on site guidelines.
• Develop and maintain productive relationships with community-based agencies, particularly those serving clinically complex patients. Represent Advocate Health in a positive manner, working collaboratively, internally and externally to meet patient and family needs. Collaborate with Advocate Health Ambulatory Care Management and Continuing Health to achieve mutual goals and outcomes.
• Demonstrate knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients served. Understand principles of growth and development over the lifespan and possess the ability to assess data reflective of the patient status and interpret the appropriate information needed to identify each patient’s age-specific needs, and provide the care needed as described in departmental policies and procedures.
• Age-specific information is further developed in the departmental job standards.

Licensure, Registration, And/or Certification Required

• Registered Nurse License issued by the State in which the team member practices.
• Accredited Care Manager (ACM) certification issued by the American Case Management Association (ACMA) needs to be obtained within 2 years, or
• Care Manager Certified (CMC) certification issued by the National Academy of Certified Care Managers (NACCM) needs to be obtained within 2 years, or
• Nurse Case Management (RN-BC) certification issued by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) needs to be obtained within two (2) years.

Education Required

• Bachelor’s degree in nursing - required to be considered for complex inpatient Care Manager role

Experience Required

• 3 years of care management experience

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required

• Ability to prioritize and organize work.
• Effective communication skills.
• Utilization of critical thinking and timely decision making.
• Ability to navigate the electronic health record.
• Basic utilization of MS Office products.
• Knowledge of Medicare A and B guidelines.
• Knowledge of managed care program requirements/implications.
• Ability to apply elements of utilization management programs.

Physical Requirements And Working Conditions

• Must be able to sit up to approximately 50 percent of the workday; stand and walk for the equivalent of several blocks at a time.
• Must lift up to 10 lbs. continuously, up to 20 lbs. frequently, and up to 50 lbs. occasionally.
• Manual dexterity required for operation computer and calculator.
• Visual acuity required for facilitating review of written documents/computer screens, medical records, and to record information accurately.
• Clear verbal communications and hearing acuity required for receiving instructions and converse on standard telephone.
• Functional speech and hearing to allow for effective communication of instructions and conversation over the telephone.
• Exposed to normal office environment; including usual hazards related to operating electrical equipment.
• Operates all equipment necessary to perform the job.