Discharge Planner - Social Work Services

Discharge Planners blend clinical knowledge with social service coordination to ensure patients leave the hospital safely. They assess individual needs, engage with families, and collaborate with medical teams to create tailored discharge plans that reduce readmissions and support recovery outside the hospital environment.

Holding an RN or LVN license, along with a current BCLS certification, significantly boosts a discharge planner’s qualifications. Familiarity with managed care terminology and case management systems further distinguishes candidates, especially in healthcare institutions prioritizing comprehensive patient care coordination.

Prior roles in social services coordination sharpen skills in managing multidisciplinary teams and navigating complex patient cases. This background empowers Discharge Planners to effectively orchestrate referrals, authorizations, and utilization management, ensuring seamless patient transitions and compliance with healthcare protocols.

Candidates should recognize Prime Healthcare’s emphasis on flexible benefit customization and equal opportunity employment culture. Understanding local patient demographics and hospital practices in Evanston enhances alignment with the facility’s social work department and contributes to more effective discharge strategies.

Prime Healthcare invests in ongoing education, offering tuition reimbursement and access to voluntary benefit programs. This commitment encourages Discharge Planners to expand their expertise in case management and patient advocacy while fostering a collaborative environment focused on continuous improvement.

Evanston’s healthcare sector shows steady demand for discharge planners due to an aging population and hospital expansions. Job seekers will find competitive openings but should prepare for interviews emphasizing both clinical knowledge and local community resource navigation.

Hourly rates typically span between $16.00 and $23.17 depending on experience, education, and certifications. Local cost of living, healthcare facility budgets, and current demand for skilled discharge planners all contribute to salary variability in this region.

While the posted schedule is full-time day shifts from 8am to 4:30pm, some flexibility might exist depending on patient needs and departmental requirements. Candidates should inquire during the hiring process about potential shift adjustments or on-call expectations.

Evanston offers a moderately competitive landscape due to its proximity to Chicago and several healthcare centers. Social workers with discharge planning expertise who are familiar with managed care systems tend to have an edge given the specialized nature of this role in the region.

At Prime Healthcare, Discharge Planners benefit from a comprehensive benefits package tailored to individual needs and a strong focus on performance improvement. The integration of utilization management and social services within one department fosters a holistic approach to patient care transitions.