Social Worker III

Berkshire Health Systems; Pittsfield (MA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

Berkshire Medical Center, part of Berkshire Health Systems, is seeking a Case Manager to coordinate clinical services and resources for patients across the hospital stay. You will work with a multidisciplinary team to review admission status and ongoing needs to ensure appropriate level of care and efficient utilization.

The role requires strong knowledge of CMS determinations, regulatory standards, and excellent communication with physicians, patients, families, and insurers.

Qualifications

• Three years of clinical experience in acute care (internal medicine, surgery, orthopedics, mother/child, cardiology, oncology, psychiatry).
• Three years of clinical experience in Rehab Setting, Home Health and Long-Term Care would be considered.
• Ability to perform a comprehensive admission and discharge risk assessment related to quality, financial, payer benefit allowances and limitations, risk management and patient satisfaction.
• Experience specializing in utilization management (levels of care knowledge and demonstrable competence with evidence based criteria tools), discharge planning to entities throughout a continuum of care, previous care management or third party insurance review preferred.
• Current knowledge of CMS (levels of care determinations), appeal rights & DPH regulations required.
• Current knowledge of Kepro QIO (appeals) required
• Knowledge of regulatory and accreditation organizations such as Joint Commission, DPH and HealthGrades preferred.
• Organizational skills. Proven ability to analyze and present data. Computer literacy. Able to plan, implement, and evaluate change.
• Proven excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Proven collaboration and negotiation skills with providers, patients, families, insurance organizations and government agencies.
• Proven ability to work independently
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain relationships with physicians.
• Knowledge of local community resources required
• Knowledge of Medicare, Medicaid, third party commercial payers and reimbursement required.
• Computer experience required with proven ability to manage multiple open applications.
• Skills in data comprehension, research, analysis, interpretation and judgement necessary to prepare a comprehensive summary report for files, management, legal and/or regulatory agencies upon request.

Responsibilities

• Review the patient at admission, and during hospitalization, for appropriate level of care and utilization of resources.
• Coordinate and monitor services and resources needed by patients across the continuum.
• Perform transition care planning activities to secure post-hospital care arrangements.
• Participate with performance improvement initiatives undertaken by Berkshire Health Systems.

Skills

Case management

Utilization management

Discharge planning

Regulatory knowledge

Data analysis

Communication skills

Negotiation

Independent working

Education

Master's Social Work

Job description

• The Case Manager is responsible for managing the healthcare needs, facilitation and achievement of quality and cost outcomes of all patients within Berkshire Medical Center, across the continuum. The case manager, utilizing a multidisciplinary team approach, negotiates, procures, coordinates and monitors services and resources needed by patients. The case manager is responsible for reviewing the patient at admission, and in some instances prior to admission, and concurrently throughout the hospital stay for the appropriate level of care and utilization of resources. The case manager will perform transition care planning activities to secure appropriate post hospital care arrangements and will monitor the patient during the course of their hospitalization. The case manager participates with the performance improvement initiatives undertaken by Berkshire Health Systems.
• POSITION QUALIFICATIONS (Minimum qualifications are required unless stated otherwise.)
• Experience:
• Three years of clinical experience in acute care in areas such as internal medicine, surgery, orthopedics, mother/child, cardiology, oncology, psychiatry
• Three years of clinical experience in Rehab Setting, Home Health and Long-Term Care would be considered.
• Ability to perform a comprehensive admission and discharge risk assessment related to quality, financial, payer benefit allowances and limitations, risk management and patient satisfaction. Experience specializing in utilization management (levels of care knowledge and demonstrable competence with evidence based criteria tools), discharge planning to entities throughout a continuum of care, previous care management or third party insurance review preferred.
• Education and Training:
• Masters Social Work.
• License, Certification & Registration:
• LCSW - Licensed Certified Social Worker, required.
• LICSW - MA Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker, preferred.
• Other Requirements:
• Current knowledge of CMS (levels of care determinations), appeal rights & DPH regulations required.
• Current knowledge of Kepro QIO (appeals) required
• Knowledge of regulatory and accreditation organizations such as Joint Commission, DPH and HealthGrades preferred.
• Organizational skills. Proven ability to analyze and present data. Computer literacy. Ability to plan, implements, and evaluate change.
• Proven excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Proven collaboration and negotiation skills with providers, patients, families, insurance organizations and government agencies.
• Proven ability to work independently
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain relationships with physicians.
• Knowledge of local community resources required
• Knowledge of Medicare, Medicaid, third party commercial payers and reimbursement required.
• Computer experience required with proven ability to manage multiple open applications.
• Skills in data comprehension, research, analysis, interpretation and judgement necessary to prepare a comprehensive summary report for files, management, legal and/or regulatory agencies upon request.