Job Description

Under the supervision of a Registered Nurse, the LVN Case Manager is responsible for prioritizing patient needs and collaborating with discharge coordinators to ensure a safe discharge plan. Collaborates with the interdisciplinary healthcare team to promote and coordinate the delivery of safe and cost-effective patient care, transition of care and discharge planning. The LVN Case Manager advocates for patient self-determination and choice. Practices clinical competence in discharge planning with awareness and respect for patient and family diversity. Monitors and coordinates resource utilization throughout the continuum of care and evaluates timeliness of services. Performs utilization review, utilizing medical staff-approved decision support criteria. Ensures case management documentation in the medical record is clear and complete.

Required Qualifications

• Two years of acute hospital case management experience OR completion of Internal Case Management training program
• Current Licensure as a Vocational Nurse in the State of California
• Computer/EMR Proficiency and Literacy
• Knowledge of CMS, Medicare, Medi-Cal and Managed Care reimbursement
• Familiarity of Joint Commission, CMS, CDPH requirements
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships across the organization
• Ability to facilitate and lead interdisciplinary rounds

Preferred Qualifications

• Bilingual skills to communicate effectively with patients and families
• Familiarity with AllScripts Care Management
• Proficiency with Milliman Care Guidelines or Interqual

Physical Requirements

These are requirements normally expected to perform regular job duties. Reasonable accommodations may be made in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and applicable, state and local law, to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Incumbent must be able to successfully perform all of the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation.

• Standing - Frequently
• Walking - Frequently
• Sitting - Frequently
• Reaching with Hands and Arms - Occasionally
• Climb or Balance - Occasionally
• Stooping, Kneeling, Crouching, or Crawling - Occasionally
• Talking - Constantly
• Hearing - Constantly
• Seeing - Constantly
• Performing repetitive motions with arms or hands - Occasionally
• Lifting, carrying, pushing or pulling up to 10 lbs - Frequently
• Lifting, carrying, pushing or pulling up to 25 lbs - Occasionally
• Lifting, carrying, pushing or pulling up to 50 lbs - Occasionally
• Lifting, carrying, pushing, or pulling greater than 50 lbs - None
• Driving - None

Essential Job Functions / Major Areas of Responsibility

The essential functions below are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties that may be assigned to this position, nor does it restrict the duties which may be assigned to this position if such duties reasonably relate to the position.

• Collaborates as needed with the patient and family to optimize client outcomes. May include work with community, local and state resources, primary care provider, and members of the health care team, payer, and other relevant health care stakeholders to facilitate appropriate patient transfers, discharges and transitions of care. Identifies timely and effective alternative lower level of care settings for patient care in accordance with the patient’s medical necessity, stability, the patients’ preferences and health plan benefits. Identifies timely post-hospital nursing care needs and arranges for services as appropriate. Provides patient and family appropriate resources and/or referrals. Makes timely and appropriate referrals to, and seeks consultation with others when needed, the patient-centered provision of services; such as Social Services (i.e., Durable Power of Attorney).
• Applies medical necessity per (InterQual guidelines and/or other hospital approved utilization review criteria) to determine appropriate level of care and length of stay. Ensures utilization review is completed and documented concurrently, and provided to the patient’s payer as required. Ensures timely escalation of unresolved care coordination issues to the appropriate level. Enters delays in service and avoidable days regarding exceeded payer LOS variances. Communicates denials and physician related utilization management practices to immediate supervisor same day as identified.
• Collaborates with patients/caregivers to set goals consistent with physician treatment plans, and patient resources and choices. Collaborates with the multidisciplinary team for timely discharge planning and documents concurrently in the patient's medical record in compliance with hospital policy and all regulatory agencies. Provides appropriate instructions to discharge care coordinators as needed.
• Acts as an effective liaison to medical staff to ensure continuity and congruity of hospital services in accordance with the patient’s plan of care.
• Participates in patient and family meetings; respecting and promoting patient choice and documents informed decision making. Utilizes knowledge of psycho-social and physical factors that affect functional status on discharge.
• Contributes requested data for the Utilization Management Committee.

Base Pay Rate: Min - $31.20 | Max - $42.90