Registered Nurse (RN)-Complex Inpatient Care Manager

Advocate Health Care; Oak Lawn (IL); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Advocate Health Care seeks a skilled Nurse Care Manager to lead care coordination for clinically complex patients. You will perform thorough assessments, develop patient-family centered plans, and collaborate with the clinical team to optimize discharge planning and transitions.

The role requires strong clinical nursing background, utilization management experience, and excellent communication. You will mentor staff and work within regulatory guidelines to ensure high-quality, cost-effective

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in nursing required or equivalent.
• RN with care management experience and strong clinical background.
• Experience in utilization management and discharge planning is preferred.
• Excellent communication and critical thinking skills required.

Responsibilities

• Perform comprehensive patient assessments and develop targeted care plans.
• Aggregate and interpret data on patient outcomes and resource use.
• Provide discharge planning and care coordination for complex cases.
• Mentor and guide frontline care management staff to improve quality and safety.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to optimize care transitions.

Skills

Clinical nursing

Care management

Utilization management

Communication skills

Critical thinking

Education

Bachelor’s degree in nursing

Tools

Electronic Health Records

MS Office

Job description

• 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.
  

Major Responsibilities

• 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

Experience Required

• 2 years of clinical nursing experience and 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.

Preferred Job Requirements

This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of the incumbent. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the incumbent. Incumbent may be required to perform other related duties.