Registered Nurse Case Manager

JOB SUMMARY

Directs and coordinates the integration of Case Management functions into the patient care, discharge, and home planning processes with other hospital departments, external service organizations, agencies, and health care facilities.

SUMMARY OF ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Provide care for the Adult or Geriatric patient, ages 18 years and over.
• Demonstrates and understands the importance of and respect for the rights, dignity and individuality of each patient in all interactions.
• Coordinates the provision of clinical care to patients, families and significant others to enable them to deal with the impact of illness on individual family functioning and to achieve maximum benefits from health care services.
• Complete psychosocial assessment on all new admissions based on hospital policy and procedures within three business days.
• Develop and is involved in the implementation of programs to assist patients and their families with the social and psychological factors of illness.
• Develop with physicians, nursing personnel, and other members of the management team in the planning of patient care services and the patient care plan.
• Engage in individual or group intervention sessions pertaining to care and adjustment.
• Arrange for discharge and post-hospital care of patents through institutions and agencies within the community.
• Provide advice and guidance in handling special cases or patient needs.
• Coordinate the provision of information and guidance to patients, their families, and other hospital departments regarding all aspects of patients’ post-discharge treatment and recovery programs.
• Coordinate the referral of patients and families to appropriate community, social service, home health services, extended care, and rehabilitation facilities and organizations.
• Coordinate Case Management communications to ensure the staff’s awareness of available services and resources; serves as the primary liaison with external social service organizations.
• Participate in the coordination of interdepartmental program planning and implementation efforts, and support related projects and activities.
• Participate in the Case Management educational programs for physicians and other departments to enhance their understanding of medical necessity aspects of health care delivery.
• Represent the department on various hospital committees.
• Develop and implement Pastoral Care Program in conjunction with Pastoral Care from Host hospital.
• Develop and maintain harmonious working relationships with other departments; address interdepartmental social service issues.
• Assist in the preparation of and monitor the department budget in compliance with established budgeting procedures. Identify and respond to variances. Case Management monitors Utilization reviews and patients LOS.
• Direct the quality improvement activities for the department and promotes the maintenance of high-quality, safe and effective patient care.
• Prepare statistical reports on department services and patient needs.

STANDARD JOB DUTIES

• Adheres to all components of the Hospital Compliance Plan in performing job duties and reports any violations or suspected violations of the Plan to the Compliance Officer.
• Demonstrates professional conduct and complies with hospital and departmental policies and procedures.
• Adheres to hospital attendance policy as outlined in the Employee Handbook.
• Complies with measures for preventing exposure to blood borne pathogens.
• Participates in the Hazardous Material Program; hazards include exposure to blood and body fluids, possible communicable diseases, sharp objects and instruments, assorted chemicals and gases as listed in the Hazardous Materials Program Manual.
• Complies with established Safety and Patient Safety Program practices.
• Performs other incidental and related duties, as required and/or assigned.
• Develops an understanding of responsibilities for recognizing patient abuse and follows policy for making appropriate referrals/interventions.
• Develops an understanding of responsibilities for participation in Performance Improvement activities and participates in such activities.
• Limits access to protected health information (PHI) to the information reasonably necessary to do the job, and shares such information only on a need-to-know basis for work purposes.

(Access to verbal, written and electronic PHI for this job has been determined based on job level and job responsibility within the organization. Computerized access to PHI for this job has been determined as described above and is controlled via user ID and password.)

Qualifications:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.
The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education/Experience:
Bachelor's degree in a healthcare related field, social service field, or RN. Two years’ Healthcare/Hospital experience as RN or Social Worker preferred.

Computer Skills:
Knowledge of basic computer skills and word processing.

Certificates and Licenses:
Licensed as a Registered Nurse or Social Worker in state of employment. Must obtain BLS within 30 days of employment and maintain for the duration of employment.

Supervisory Responsibilities:
None

Work Environment:
The work environment is representative of that which an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Physical Demands:
The physical demands of this job are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the position. Reasonable accommodation may be made to a qualified individual with a disability who can perform the essential functions of this position with or without reasonable accommodation. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus while performing the duties of this job. The employee is regularly required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; talk; and hear.

Acknowledgement of Receipt and Acceptance of Job Description
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work required in this position. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required. All personnel may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time and as needed.