DHR Health - US:TX:Edinburg - Days

Summary:

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Discharge Technician provides assistance to Case Managers and Social Workers to facilitate the process of care and transition planning process. The Discharge Technician participates in the gathering of information directly from the patient and transfer of information to outside vendors as well as providing clerical support relative to discharge planning documentation and communications. The incumbent collaborates with Case Managers, Social Workers and nursing staff to identify expected discharges and transfers and may be called upon to transmit required information for a QIO appeal. The Discharge Technician will also assist the Director and other Case Management staff with tasks necessary to meet department goals and objectives.

POSITION EDUCATION/ QUALIFICATIONS :

• High school diploma or equivalent required.

• Associates Degree in medical field or human services preferred with three to four years hospital or medical office experience preferred.

• Bilingual – English/Spanish.
• • Excellent verbal and written communication skills
  • Word processing skills
  • Ability to prioritize work and manage multiple projects simultaneously
  • Good attention to detail and accuracy
  • Analytical decision making and judgment
  • Ability to maintain confidentiality in matters relating to patient/family

  JOB KNOWLEDGE/EXPERIENCE :

  • Working knowledge of medical terminology is mandatory.
  • Experience related to discharge planning, case management or post-acute services intake is preferred.
  • Ability to work weekends is needed.
  • Ability to work independently with minimal supervision and to be goal oriented and accountable.
  • Ability to work in a complex, fast paced setting, to demonstrate exquisite oral communication and negotiation skills and strong interpersonal skills.
  • Ability to demonstrate excellent interpersonal skills, courtesy, respect and a helpful positive attitude in face-to-face and telephone interactions with patients, families, visitors, physicians, community agencies, employees and the community at large.
  • Ability to maintain confidentiality at all times in keeping with hospital policy.
  • Experience with office machines (i.e. copier, fax, telephone), computer terminal/personal computer, software (i.e. word processing, spreadsheets, etc.)
  • Knowledge of State, Federal, and JCAHO regulations.

Responsibilities:

POSITION RESPONSIBILITES:

• • Under the direction of the Case Manager or Social Worker, assists patients and family with completion and return of “choice letter” and authorization for Release of Protective Health Information.
  • Participates in discharge planning activities (e.g. executing referrals and coordinating with Admission Coordinators of post-discharge facilities, community based and home care resources, Hospice, and DME providers) as needed to ensure a timely patient discharge and appropriate linkage with post-discharge care providers.
  • Supports clerical needs (copying, faxing, and collating information) of transition planning as required.
  • Assist with making arrangements for transportation of patients as necessary.
  • Applies knowledge and utilizes appropriate resources to address the influence of age and human development, culture and cognitive status across the life span. Uses appropriate skills in working with the geriatric population, such as speaking distinctly and slowly, providing time for decision making, verbalizing and moving, addressing patient as preferred, involving family or caregiver and considering barriers and limitations when planning for discharge.
  • Provides timely delivery, documentation and tracking of Medicare "Important Message" notices to Medicare patient or representative ready to discharge out of the hospital.
  • Maintains all memorandums of transfer files and assures completion of memorandum of transfer.
  • Collects copies and transmits pertinent clinical and patient demographic information required to complete arrangements for transition and post-discharge care and/or placement, as directed.
  • In collaboration with Social Worker or Case Manager, maintains an accurate and diverse list of facilities and other community based and home care resources, Hospice and DME providers, contact information for the same and a library of marketing materials from such provider that can be shared with staff, patients and families as necessary.
  • Maintains accurate / up to date Patient “choice letter” and authorization of release of protective health information.
  • Provides data entry and report generation as directed.
  • Performs other functions as directed.
  • Participates in Process Improvement initiatives.
  • Supports Case Management team and process development.
  • Performs other duties as assigned by Director/Manager.
  • Change Management: Acts as a catalyst for change in the organization; responds to change with flexibility and adaptability to overcome organizational resistance and inertia; demonstrates the ability to focus and energize associates to work together for change; gains maximum support form others for new initiatives.
  • Shaping the Organization: Devises systems and processes which improve the overall functioning of the organization; ensures that the organization’s systems, processes and people are integrated to achieve the mission in the most efficient and effective manner.
  • Managing Process: Translates strategies into action steps; clearly assigns responsibility for decisions and tasks; sets clear objectives; monitors progress and achieves results.
  • Achieving Results: Demonstrates the confidence, drive and ability to face and overcome challenges and obstacles to achieve organizational goals.
  • Enhancing Clinical Outcomes: Works to improve the healthcare process in general and devises and implements strategies specifically directed at improving clinical outcomes.
  • Utilizes evidences-based tools to analyze and identify trends/patterns of performance through variance reporting to improve quality, satisfaction, and decrease cost variation.
  • Core Values: Demonstrates adherence to the CORE values of Doctors Hospital at Renaissance.
  • Performs other duties as directed.

Other information:

LINES OF REPSONSIBILITES :

(Chain-of-command)

1. Case Manager 2. Social Worker 3. Director of Resource Manager

CUSTOMER SERVICE:

Provide excellent customer service to all DHR customers. All employees are required to attend the DHR C.A.R.E.S program which outlines the Customer Service Principals including: Commitment, Accountability, Respect, Excellence and Service.

AGE SPECIFIC :

Employees must be able to demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients served in his/her assigned unit. The individual must demonstrate knowledge of principles of growth and development over the life span and possess the ability to assess data reflective of the patient’s status and interpret the appropriate information needed to identify each patient’s requirement relative to his or her age.

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT: (ADA) :

A. Essential Duties : Indicated by bold print within performance standards, preceding individual numbered criteria.

The following table provides physical requirements that will be associated with, but not limited to, this position:

B. Working Conditions : The individual spends over 95% of his/her time in an air-conditioned environment with varying exposures to noise. There is protection from weather conditions but not necessarily from temperature changes. The position does have low exposure to malodorous, infectious body fluids from patients and some minimal exposure to noxious smells from cleansing agents.

C. Occupational Exposure: This position has minimal to no exposure to blood, body fluids, or tissues and is an OSHA Category III (although situations can be imagined or hypothesized under which anyone, anywhere, might encounter potential exposure to body fluids). Person who performs these duties are not called upon as part of their employment to perform or assist in emergency medical care or first aid or to be potentially exposed in some other way.

D. Aptitudes : HIGH 1 2 3 4 5 6 LOW

Intelligence: General learning ability: The ability to “catch on” or understand instructions and underlying principles. Ability to reason and make judgments. 3

Verbal: Ability to understand meanings of words and ideas associated with them, and to use them effectively. To comprehend language, to understand relationships between words, and to understand meanings of whole sentences and paragraphs. To present information or ideas clearly. 3

Numerical: Ability to perform arithmetic operations quickly and accurately. 2

Spatial: Ability to comprehend forms in space and understands relationships of plane and solid objects. Frequently described as the ability to “visualize” objects or two or three dimensions, or to think visually of geometric forms. 2

Form Perception: Ability to perceive pertinent details and objects or in pictorial or graphic material to make visual comparisons and discriminations and see slight differences in shapes and shadings of figures and widths and lengths of lines. 3

Clerical Perception: Ability to receive pertinent details and verbal or tabular material. To observe differences in copy, to proofread words and numbers, and to avoid perceptual errors in arithmetic computation. 2

Motor Coordination: Ability to coordinate eyes and hands to fingers rapidly and accurately in making precise movements with speed. Ability to make a movement response accurately and quickly. 3

Finger Dexterity: Ability to move hands easily and skillfully. To work with fingers in placing and turning motions. 3

Manual Dexterity: Ability to move hands easily and skillfully. To work with hands in placing and turning motions. 3

Eye-Hand-Foot Coordination: Ability to move the hand and foot coordinately with each other in accordance with visual stimuli. 3

Color Discrimination: Ability to perceive and respond to similarities or differences in colors, shapes, or other values of the same or different color. To identify a particular color, or to recognize harmonious or contrasting color combinations, or to match color adequately. 3

I have read and reviewed my job description with my supervisor or designee and I understand the job I am expected to perform.

If applicable ____________ certification will be completed within _________ time frame of hire/transfer date.

Employee Signature: ________________________________ Date: ____________________

Transfer/Hire Date Effective: ________________________.