Carondelet St. Mary's Hospital — Southern Arizona's longest continually operating hospital, established in 1880 and a recognized regional destination for cardiac, vascular, stroke, and bariatric care — is seeking a Discharge Planner to join its Case Management team in Tucson, AZ. This role sits at the intersection of patient advocacy and care coordination, supporting RN Case Managers and Social Workers in arranging seamless post-acute transitions for a diverse inpatient population. The position offers a structured, team-based environment within a nationally recognized acute care medical center with deep subspecialty depth.
Perks and Benefits
- Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance coverage
- 401(k) retirement savings plan with employer match
- Generous paid time off
- Health savings accounts (HSA); healthcare and dependent flexible spending accounts (FSA)
- Career development and continuing education opportunities
- Employee Assistance Program and employee discount program
- Voluntary benefits including pet insurance, legal insurance, accident and critical illness insurance, long-term care, elder and childcare assistance, and auto and home insurance
Practice Highlights
- Works under the direction of RN Case Managers and Social Workers to coordinate all post-acute discharge referrals for inpatients
- Manages electronic referrals end-to-end using the Tenet Case Management documentation system, including timely follow-up with post-acute providers
- Validates patient demographic and payer information; confirms commercial and managed care authorizations for status and level of care, escalating variances to the Director of Case Management
- Delivers Important Message follow-up letters to Medicare beneficiaries in accordance with CMS Conditions of Participation and facility policy
- Presents patients and families with post-acute provider choices per regulatory requirements; reviews and obtains required signatures on patient choice letters
- Communicates referral details and care transition information across the full care team — physicians, nursing, social work, patients, families, and receiving post-acute facilities
- Provides patients and families with information on available resources, benefits, and the economic impact of care options
- Adheres to federal, state, and local regulations and accreditation standards governing case management scope of services
- Based at St. Mary's Hospital — home to the Carondelet Heart & Vascular Institute and recognized for minimally invasive heart and vascular surgery, advanced stroke care, emergency care, wound care, and bariatric surgery
Qualifications
- Minimum of two (2) years of experience in a clerical or healthcare setting required
- High school diploma or equivalent required
- Associate or Bachelor's degree preferred
- Paramedic, EMT, or Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) certification preferred
- Acute hospital experience preferred
About the Community
Tucson is a vibrant, sun-drenched city of nearly one million residents nestled in the Sonoran Desert, offering an exceptional quality of life with more than 350 days of sunshine per year, a low cost of living relative to other major Arizona metros, and immediate access to world-class outdoor recreation including Saguaro National Park, Mount Lemmon, and the Santa Catalina Mountains. The city is home to the University of Arizona, a thriving arts and culinary scene, and a diverse, welcoming community — all within a two-hour drive of Phoenix and less than an hour from the Mexican border city of Nogales.