DISCHARGE PLANNER

Job Description

Responsibilities

Discharge Planner - Join Our Team at North Star Behavioral Health

North Star Behavioral Health, Alaska's premier mental health facility, is on a mission to provide hope and healing to individuals facing psychiatric or substance abuse challenges.

We specialize in military-specific care for first responders, service members, veterans, and their dependents through the Chris Kyle Patriots Hospital.

Our commitment is to prioritize patient care, offering excellence, comfort, and security during their most vulnerable moments.

Join us, and you'll become part of a supportive network of peers and leaders dedicated to continuous learning and industry excellence.

At North Star, your career can thrive through robust education opportunities and advancement within the Universal Health Services (UHS) network.

Who is North Star : At North Star Behavioral Health, we are dedicated to delivering a level of care that not only meets but exceeds expectations.

Our vision is simple yet profound : to provide care that patients enthusiastically recommend to their family and friends, care that physicians prefer for their patients, and care that our employees take pride in delivering every day.

We uphold this vision by wholeheartedly embracing the following principles :

• Service Excellence
• Continuous Improvement
• Employee Development
• Ethical and Fair Treatment
• Teamwork
• Compassion
• Innovation

Our commitment to excellence isn't just a slogan it's a way of life at North Star Behavioral Health. If you share these values and are passionate about making a positive impact on the lives of individuals and families facing mental health challenges, we invite you to join our team.

Together, we can continue to provide the highest level of care and create a brighter future for those we serve .

Key Responsibilities :

• Facilitates timely referrals to alternate levels of care and assists family and / or guardian with completion of applications.
• Communicates with referral providers about new referrals and ensures that the facility has all necessary information to consider a referral;

assists with ensuring that all receiving providers have all necessary clinical materials and information.

• Documents case management contacts in progress notes, communicates with therapists / treatment team about contact and updates on the status of discharge planning.
• Works with involved agencies by arranging and participating in multi-agency meetings as needed to facilitate a smooth discharge.
• Works with Utilization Review to establish prior authorization, travel, insurance application, etc. is coordinated for a timely discharge.
• Maintains a shared file where information is updated to review status of faxes, referrals, etc; maintains contact with current providers to update them on the status of patient / course of hospitalization and to obtain information from provider to share with treatment team.
• Participates in problem-solving regarding abrupt changes in discharge, coordinates and communicates the discharge plan.
• Coordinates travel arrangements as directed by the therapists and communicates all information to therapists in a timely manner;

contacts family with travel information and provides copies of necessary travel documents to family if directed by the therapist / treatment team.

• Coordinates discharge appointments and communicates to therapist and family if directed by therapist / treatment team.
• Maintains documentation on all cases; ensuring progress notes on all case management contact / discharge planning efforts are completed no later than hours after the contact;

documents discharge appointments in the discharge paperwork.

• Participates in community activities as requested by the Director of Social Services to build relationships with community providers.
• Serves as an effective team member and works closely with the Utilization Review team and clinical team.
• Makes phone contacts with referral services and outpatient providers weekly.

Qualifications

Qualifications : To excel in this role, you should have :

Clinical Expertise : Bachelor’s in social work, psychology, or related field is required. One year post degree experience preferred.

Communication : Strong communication and interpersonal skills.

What We Offer :

• Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package
• Opportunities for professional development and career growth
• A supportive and collaborative work environment
• Access to ongoing training and educational opportunities
30+ days ago