Discharge Planner - PRN

At Oceans Behavioral Hospital Opelousas, healing is our focus. We are passionate about helping adults and seniors manage the challenges associated with anxiety, depression and other mental health issues. Utilizing proven, innovative and progressive therapies, our qualified professionals strive to promote long‑term wellness through a range of inpatient and outpatient psychiatric counseling and treatment options.

Overview

The Discharge Planner coordinates with admission and clinical staff to ensure patient treatment needs are met in accordance with the Joint Commission and federal and state regulations, Oceans' mission, policies and procedures, and Performance Improvement standards. This role serves as a patient liaison for physicians, clinical staff, and family members, coordinating resources and discharge needs. The Discharge Planner works jointly with the Performance Improvement Coordinator to conduct closed and concurrent reviews of medical records and facilitates timely discharge planning.

Essential Functions

• Acts as patient liaison and discharge planner, coordinating treatments with physicians, therapists, and nursing staff.
• Reviews psychosocial data and other assessments to complete discharge assessments with patients and present findings to the multidisciplinary treatment team for approval.
• Schedules appointments, follows up on absentees, and completes continuing‑care plans.
• Attends treatment team meetings and communicates discharge planning activities to other team members.
• Attends status meetings to share pertinent data, update attendance calendars, and communicate individual patient needs to clinical and admission staff.
• Performs additional discharge‑planning duties as required, and coordinates communication flow among staff involved in patient care, completing paperwork for judicial commitments and state bed packets.
• Completes referral process and necessary paperwork for all other levels of care, makes follow‑up appointments, sends required letters to patients, and completes medication assistance forms to assist patients and families with follow‑up care items.
• Conducts special retrospective studies and audits when determined by M&PS or other committee structures.
• Accurately completes discharge reviews on 100 % of all discharges per month, inputs review information into the computer database, and timely completes all initial CQI+ forms and questionnaires.
• Performs other duties and projects as assigned.

Requirements

Education / Experience

• Associate degree with an emphasis in healthcare or bachelor’s degree in social services preferred.
• At least one year of psychiatric or chemical dependency experience with solid psychiatric/medical knowledge preferred.

Skills / Abilities

• Excellent assertive communication and customer‑service skills.
• In‑depth knowledge of chemical dependency and psychiatric treatment, including the discharge‑planning process.
• Strong writing and composition skills.
• Understanding of regulatory requirements, fiscal reimbursement, and utilization review as integral components of patient care.
• Strong patient advocacy skills.
• Ability to organize, prioritize, and manage a high‑volume workload effectively.
• Data‑analysis skills to provide individualized, cost‑effective, high‑quality treatment.
• Independent operation with minimal supervision while maintaining a positive work attitude.
• Professional, cooperative interactions with staff to achieve optimal patient outcomes.
• Competence in addressing age, disability, and culturally related patient needs with sensitivity and respect.
• Successful completion and maintenance of Basic Life Support (BLS) certification and an Oceans‑approved behavioral health de‑escalation program.

Work Environment

The position is subject to frequent interruptions and occasional pressure due to multiple calls and inquiries. It can be high‑paced and stressful; the individual must cope mentally and physically with the environment. Approximately 90 % or more of the time will be spent inside a building that protects from weather, but not necessarily from temperature changes.