Discharge Specialist

Reporting to the Manager of Transitions, the Discharge Specialist is a health professional who takes a role in the development and implementation of comprehensive plan of community care for complex discharges. The role provides clinical consultation around complex discharge planning. Other responsibilities include: constantly evaluating the community care needs of patients within an interdisciplinary framework in order to achieve an individualized, safe and well-coordinated discharge plan; determining ongoing medical, technological, rehabilitative, psychosocial and financial resource needs; partnering with community service providers to ensure optimal delivery of community resources; evaluating outcomes to ensure quality and continuity of care; and effectively utilizing resources to achieve cost-effective health care. The Discharge Specialist integrates research and practice and creates, utilizes and disseminates knowledge. 

1. Post Secondary education; Degree in relevant field (Masters Degree preferred)
2. Regulated Health Care professional with current registration to applicable Regulatory College
3. Minimum 5 years of related clinical experience (acute care and/or chronic disease management) including: clinical expertise, resource management, quality improvement, case management and discharge planning
4. Demonstrated knowledge and experience in working with a continuum of services across sectors (including home care) and resources to enhance patient transitions and quality of care preferred.
5. Computer office support software knowledge including databases, spreadsheets and presentation software
6. Knowledge of utilization management including CMG's, EDD, LOS, and benchmarking
7. Demonstrated knowledge of adult education principles
8. Established network of internal and external resource contacts
9. Excellent communication, presentation, time management and organizational skills
10. Excellent critical thinking, problem solving, decision making and conflict resolution skills
11. Strong leadership, interpersonal, negotiating, consensus-building and teaching skills
12. Demonstrated willingness and ability to learn new skills and support change management
13. Demonstrated dedication to continuing education, the continuous improvement process and evaluation