Assessment and Discharge Specialist

About This Role

Provide appropriate and timely discharge arrangements or plans in accordance with patients' multidisciplinary treatment team recommendations. Assess patient needs to ensure safe discharge planning and discuss potential placement and resource options with patients and families.

Responsibilities

• Gather and evaluate pertinent information for patient discharge, including psycho-social history from Emergency Department patients and families.
• Contact appropriate ED personnel and obtain medical records to determine and meet patient discharge needs.
• Communicate with patient care team members to exchange information regarding social, emotional, or environmental problems.
• Collect Advanced Directives, MOLSTs, custody agreements, psychiatric certifications, and other relevant legal documents.
• Educate patients and involved parties about the process of treating behavioral health patients during their ED visit.
• Obtain consent signatures on all necessary documentation from the patient, parent, or guardian.
• Provide bed availability and disposition updates to patients and guardians (if applicable).
• Prepare, maintain, document, and update electronic medical records with pertinent summaries and notes.
• Ensure outside facilities and programs receive patients’ clinical documentation in a timely manner while maintaining HIPAA compliance.
• Participate in daily psychiatric rounds with the multidisciplinary treatment team.
• Collaborate with crisis bed and Child Protection Program liaisons, when necessary.
• Assess needs for home care, auxiliary services, or extended care facility placements.
• Secure psychiatric facility placements for psychiatric patients after treatment team recommendations.
• Make referrals to local crisis residential treatment facilities, psychiatric rehabilitation programs (PRP), partial hospitalization programs (PHP), and outpatient mental health programs (OMHP).

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree or working towards one (completion within 3 years of hire)
• 3 years' progressively responsible work experience in psychiatric/chemical dependency field or related health care setting
• Knowledge of available community resources
• Advanced oral and written communication skills
• Skill in organizing workload and balancing many tasks
• Skills in time management
• Ability to evaluate data gathered for medical plan of treatment
• Ability to work with a multidisciplinary team in a medical setting

Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution is required. OR Must be working towards a bachelor’s degree and must be completed within 3 years of hire.
• Three years’ progressively responsible work experience in psychiatric/chemical dependency field or related health care setting.