Care Manager I

Overview The Care Manager is accountable for outcomes as related to providing coordination of patient management through the continuum of care. Responsible for financial, clinical, and discharge planning evaluation for each assigned patient. Assures payment for services rendered, coordinates care, manages resources, and facilitates each patient encounter for efficient and effective outcomes as related to quality, clinical and cost areas. Special Instructions Outcomes Case Manager Position Summary The Outcomes Case Manager is responsible for coordinating, monitoring, and evaluating client care to ensure positive measurable outcomes. This role focuses on improving quality, efficiency, and effectiveness of services by tracking performance metrics, supporting care plans, and ensuring compliance with regulatory and organizational standards. Key Responsibilities Care Coordination Assess client needs and develop individualized service or discharge plans Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams (physicians, nurses, social workers, therapists) Facilitate continuity of care across settings Outcomes Management Track and analyze patient/client outcomes and performance metrics Identify trends and opportunities for improvement Ensure services align with evidence-based practices and organizational goals Data Collection & Reporting Maintain accurate documentation in case management systems Collect data for quality improvement and regulatory compliance Prepare reports on outcomes, utilization, and performance indicators Utilization Review & Resource Management Evaluate appropriateness of services and resource use Support cost-effective care while maintaining quality Monitor length of stay, readmissions, and service utilization Patient/Client Advocacy Serve as a liaison between clients, families, and care teams Educate clients on treatment plans, resources, and services Address barriers to achieving desired outcomes Compliance & Quality Improvement Ensure compliance with federal, state, and organizational policies Participate in quality improvement initiatives Support accreditation and audit processes Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in Nursing, Social Work, Healthcare Administration, or related field (Master’s preferred for some organizations) Current licensure/certification (e.g., RN, LCSW, CCM, ACM) as required 2–5 years of case management, utilization review, or clinical experience Knowledge of healthcare systems, regulations, and payer guidelines Skills and Competencies Strong analytical and critical thinking skills Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities Proficiency in data analysis and reporting tools Ability to manage multiple cases and priorities Knowledge of quality metrics and outcomes measurement Problem-solving and decision-making skills Work Environment Hospitals, healthcare systems, insurance organizations, or community agencies May involve office-based work with some patient/client interaction Often requires collaboration across departments Performance Metrics May Include Readmission rates Length of stay Patient/client satisfaction scores Cost of care per case Compliance and audit results Responsibilities Manages an assigned caseload of patients from preadmission to discharge. Assumes responsibility for admission appropriateness (medical necessity), (outpatient, observation, inpatient admission), continued stay, and medical record monitoring Coordinates communication with third party payers, external review agencies and the Utilization Committee. Identify managed care issues and address promptly as related to denials management Coordinates and collaborate with physicians, provider, multidisciplinary team and other health care professionals concerning patient’s goals, plan of care and progress. Revise and adjust on a daily basis the plan of care to accommodate the needs of the individual patient based on continuing assessment of patient condition. Leads discharge planning multidisciplinary team meetings, ensures documentation of meetings Advocate for the patient/family and is knowledgeable of and act in accordance with legal principles of consent, healthcare proxies (power of attorney for healthcare) and advance medical directives. Stays abreast of developments in the case management field and seeks ongoing education to enhance practice skills. Care Management is willing to seek certification in case management field if made available through ARH. Stays abreast of regulatory agency guidelines as pertains to area of practice Initiate and monitor clinical care guidelines and analyze positive and negative variances Ensure continuity of care through formulation of discharge plan on admission and follow though until patient is discharged. Ensure appropriate use of resources. Monitor patient care for appropriate use of resources. Monitors length of stay on a concurrent, weekly, and monthly basis. Ensures that length of stay is appropriate based on medical necessity. Works with medical staff, hospital staff, and others to overcome barriers to discharge. Monitors in-house denials for extended lengths of stay. Participates in the denials management process to help ensure establishment of and adherence to processes that will minimize denials by third-party payers. Participates as a member of the Utilization Committee Assists in the collection of data to trend and analyze outcomes for identification of improvement opportunities. Participates in data collection, specific to outcomes data. Assesses the appropriateness of the level of care; diagnostic testing and clinical procedures; quality and clinical risk issues; and documentation of medical record completeness. Performs other related duties as assigned. Qualifications Associate's Degree Registered Nurse (licensed in state of employment) from an accredited school for nursing Preferred Bachelor's Degree Nurisng; Must be obtained within 5 years Preferred 4-6 years 5 Years of nursing experience may be considered with demonstration of skills required for the position. Preferred Advanced knowledge of problem solving and decision making skills. Strong multi-tasking abilities with the ability to handle competing deadlines; flexible and adaptable. Ability to deal tactfully with customers and community. Advanced communication skills used to lead a team. Advanced execution and delivery (planning, delivering, and supporting) skills. Ability to consider the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one. Ability to function in clinical setting with diverse cultural dynamics of clinical staff and patients. Mastery knowledge of phases of care transitions and resources available for patients. Mastery of digital literacy skills. Ability to handle sensitive information ethically and responsibly. RN Preferred LPN Required