Discharge Navigator at St. Claire Regional Medical Center – Morehead, Kentucky

The Discharge Navigator works with case managers, social workers, nurses, and providers to facilitate a seamless patient discharge experience.

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Works as a liaison with patient families/caregivers and the care team to promote effective communication during the discharge process.
• Identifies barriers to discharge and mitigates those identified barriers before the day of discharge.
• Verifies orders are placed for equipment to ensure safe discharge.
• Communicates to the patient/caregiver hospital follow-up/specialty appointments.
• Verifies new prescriptions have been placed at the patient's pharmacy.
• Verifies discharge transportation has been arranged.
• Communicates with the primary nurse when the patient is ready (all orders are placed and communicated, medications have been ordered, transportation has been arranged) for discharge to the next level of care.
• Identifies patients at high risk for readmission and arranges for post-discharge communication to ensure continued understanding of discharge, with the input of Case Managers.

Education:
Graduate of a Certified Medical Assistant Program, graduate of a Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN) program, or Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work (LSW) required. Experience may be considered in lieu of education.

Experience:
Three years of healthcare experience preferred.

Licensure/Certification:
Licensure required will be dependent on education (i.e., CMA - Certification in Medical Assisting, LPN- current license from the Kentucky Board of Nursing (KBN). SW - licensed in Kentucky by the State Board of Examiners of Social Work within 18 months of hire preferred.

Physical/Work Requirements:
The physical demands described here represent those that an employee must meet to perform the essential functions of this job successfully. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and use hands to finger, handle, or feel. The employee is required to communicate effectively. Specific vision abilities this job requires include close vision for reading and computer work. The employee must lift and/or move up to 10 pounds, frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds, and occasionally lift and/or move more than 50 pounds.

The work environment described here is representative of those that an employee must meet to perform the essential functions of this job successfully. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee works in an area with good lighting and climate control. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.