Assessment and Discharge Specialist​/Evenings​/Weekends

Responsibilities

Under general supervision, provides an appropriate and timely discharge arrangement or plan in accordance with the patient’s multidisciplinary treatment team recommendation. Assists the treatment team with assessing the patient’s needs to help ensure a safe discharge plan. Provides knowledge of and discusses potential placement and/or resource options with patients and families. Assists the patient in the utilization of health care services, community resources, education and other information as it relates to the patient’s illness or disorder.

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.

• Knowledge of available community resources
• Advanced skills in oral and written communication
• Skill in organising 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

• Gather and evaluate all pertinent information to prepare for patient discharge by meeting with patients and families in the Emergency Department to obtain relevant psycho‑social history, contacting appropriate ED personnel and/or obtaining medical records to assist in determining and meeting patient discharge needs, communicating with other patient care team members to exchange valuable information regarding social, emotional or environmental problems, collecting advanced directives, MOLSTs, custody agreements, psychiatric certifications and other court orders/documents relevant to a patient’s case that can affect discharge planning.
• Provide guidance to patients and families during the psychiatric evaluation and discharge planning process by educating patient and parties involved about the process of treating behavioral health patients during their visit to the Emergency Department, obtaining consent signatures on all necessary documentation, and providing bed availability and/or disposition updates.
• Prepare and maintain records and reports by preparing, maintaining, documenting and updating electronic medical records, ensuring outside facilities and programs receive patients’ clinical documentation for review, participating in daily psychiatric rounds with the multidisciplinary treatment team, collaborating with crisis bed and Child Protection Program liaisons when necessary.
• Conduct timely discharge planning for ED behavioral health patients by assessing needs for home care, auxiliary services or aiding in extended care facility placements, securing psychiatric facility placements, making referrals to local crisis residential treatment facilities, and submitting and obtaining insurance pre‑authorization for placement, communicating and informing the treatment team of the discharge plan, status updates, barriers, and ambulance transportation ETA, discussing the discharge plan with parent or guardian for pediatric patients, and organising and assembling the discharge packet for patients transferring to an inpatient psychiatric facility.

• Ability to concentrate and pay close attention to detail when meeting with patients and families, providing support, and preparing discharge plans.

• Emergency Department patient care environment with exposure to excessive noise and dust.
• Potential exposure to personal harm when working with behavioral health patients.

Must complete educational requirements within 3 years of hire if not already attained at time of hire.

I will treat everyone with courtesy. I will foster a healing environment. Treats others with fairness, kindness, and respect for personal dignity and privacy. Listens and responds appropriately to others’ needs, feelings, and capabilities.

I will strive for superior performance in every aspect of my work. I will recognize and celebrate the…