RN Case Manager - Field Based - Tucson, AZ

$5,000 Sign-On Bonus for External Candidates only 

For those who want to invent the future of health care, here's your opportunity. We're going beyond basic care to health programs integrated across the entire continuum of care. Join us and help people live healthier lives while doing your life's best work.(sm)

OptumCare is a network of health care providers in the Southwest, whose mission is to connect and support providers by working together to deliver the most effective and compassionate care to each and every patient they serve. OptumCare’s focus is to do the right things for patients, physicians, and the community. OptumCare’s Core Business is contracting directly with health insurers to deliver a highly personal care management and service model to their patients. The current focus of OptumCare is on seniors, and those with complex care needs, who most benefit from a high touch model of care.

Our Nurse Case Managers (NCM) are RNs who are responsible for the coordination of care for patients in the inpatient and community setting to determine medical appropriateness by following medical guidelines and benefit determination. The ultimate goal is to help the patient remain out of the hospital while remaining in a safe home with a quality of life.

The Nurse Case Manager acts as a longitudinal advocate for patients from the time the patient is admitted to the hospital until the patient with their care givers have returned to their home. They link the patient and care givers with the network of care team members to help them gain knowledge of their disease process and to identify community resources for continued growth toward the maximum level of independence. The Nurse Case Manager is responsible for the case management activities across the continuum of care including coordination of care, development of a comprehensive care plan with any identified barriers, providing health education, coaching and treatment decision support for patients. The NCM participates in interdisciplinary conferences to review clinical assessments, update care plans and determine follow-up frequency with the team.

***This is a full time, Monday-Friday position. The RN must be able to travel within assigned territory/location area which includes but not limited to: the Tucson Metro area as needed in order to conduct critical face to face assessments. Territory Assignments are based on business needs and may change over time. Applicants must be willing to carry a diverse clinical caseload and visit the patient in their home, hospital, SNF and as needed in the PCP’s office.***

Primary Responsibilities:

• Collaborates effectively with interdisciplinary team (IDT) to establish an individualized plan of care for members, goals including both short and long term
• Works with the Utilization Management RNs, Social Worker (LMSWs) Case Managers and other internal and external providers to facilitate smooth care transitions
• Serves as the primary clinical liaison with hospital, clinical and administrative staff for a smooth, seamless transition to the next level of care
• Stratifies and / or validates patient level of risk and communicates during transition process with IDT
• Ensures standardized execution of workflow processes, such as increase in admissions, monthly audits, and referral to Social Workers (LMSWs)
• Provides assessments of physical, psycho-social and transition needs in settings not limited to the PCP office, hospital, or member's home
• Develops interventions and processes to assist Medicare and Medicaid patients in meeting short and long term plan of care goals
• Coordinates and attends member visits with PCP and specialists as needed
• Nurse Case Managers work with their supervisor to work their assigned case load in an efficient and effective manner utilizing time management skills to facilitate the total work process
• Confers with physician advisors on a regular basis regarding inpatient cases and participates in departmental conferencing
• Plans patient transitions with internal medical management staff and external providers
• Attends and participates in interdisciplinary team meetings as directed
• With the assistance of the UM team, guides physicians and hospital staff in their awareness of preferred contracts and providers as well as facilities
• Enters timely and accurate data into designated case management applications as needed to communicate patient needs and maintains audit scores of 95% or greater on a monthly basis as well as to be determined patient satisfactory scores

You’ll be rewarded and recognized for your performance in an environment that will challenge you and give you clear direction on what it takes to succeed in your role as well as provide development for other roles you may be interested in.

Required Qualifications:

• Current, unrestricted RN license in the state of AZ
• 3+ years of clinical experience in an acute care, home health, hospice, geriatric and / or hospital setting
• CCM certification or obtained within 2 years of hire
• Experience using EMR and CM practice guidelines
• Knowledge of discharge planning alternatives options and interdisciplinary approaches
• Experience with Microsoft Office applications including Word
• Access to reliable transportation that will enable you to travel to client and/or patient sites within the Tucson Metro Area
• Full COVID-19 vaccination is an essential requirement of this role. Candidates located in states that mandate COVID-19 booster doses must also comply with those state requirements. UnitedHealth Group will adhere to all federal, state and local regulations as well as all client requirements and will obtain necessary proof of vaccination, and boosters when applicable, prior to employment to ensure compliance

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working with special needs plans and/or Medicare Accountable Care Organization
• Experience working with individuals with multiple co-morbidities and complex medical conditions
• 2+ years of case management experience
• Diabetes Disease case management and/or educator
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) language proficiency
• Experience with Excel and Power Point
• Possess planning, organizing, conflict resolution, negotiating and interpersonal skills
• Independent problem identification/resolution and decision making skills
• Able to prioritize, plan, and handle multiple tasks/demands simultaneously

To protect the health and safety of our workforce, patients and communities we serve, UnitedHealth Group and its affiliate companies require all employees to disclose COVID-19 vaccination status prior to beginning employment. In addition, some roles and locations require full COVID-19 vaccination, including boosters, as an essential job function. UnitedHealth Group adheres to all federal, state and local COVID-19 vaccination regulations as well as all client COVID-19 vaccination requirements and will obtain the necessary information from candidates prior to employment to ensure compliance. Candidates must be able to perform all essential job functions with or without reasonable accommodation. Failure to meet the vaccination requirement may result in rescission of an employment offer or termination of employment.

 

Careers at OptumCare. We're on a mission to change the face of health care. As the largest health and wellness buness in the US, we help 58 million people navigate the health care system, finance their health care needs and achieve their health and well-being goals. Fortunately, we have a team of the best and brightest minds on the planet to make it happen. Together we're creating the most innovative ideas and comprehensive strategies to help heal the health care system and create a brighter future for us all. Join us and learn why there is no better place to do your life's best work.(sm)

OptumCare is committed to creating an environment where physicians focus on what they do best: care for their patients. To do so, OptumCare provides administrative and business support services to both owned and affiliated medical practices which are part of OptumCare. Each medical practice part and their physician employees have complete authority with regards to all medical decision-making and patient care. OptumCare’s support services do not interfere with or control the practice of medicine by the medical practices or any of their physicians.

Diversity creates a healthier atmosphere: OptumCare is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action employers and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.

OptumCare is a drug-free workplace. Candidates are required to pass a drug test before beginning employment.