Nurse Care Manager (Renal/Ckd) - Remote

Careers at Landmark, part of the Optum and UnitedHealth Group family of businesses. At Landmark, we work to deliver high quality, comprehensive care to chronically ill patients wherever they reside and whenever they need it. We focus on doing what’s right for the people we serve, even when it’s not easy. This is your opportunity to be part of a compassionate team that is setting out to change health care for complex, chronic patients. We’re looking for driven people like you because changing the status quo takes dedication. Here, we’ll invest in your personal and professional growth while giving you a unique opportunity to make a difference. Helping people feel their best is a rewarding part of doing your life’s best work.(sm)

The Nurse Care Manager (NCM) is an integral part of the Interdisciplinary care team (IDT) and is responsible for the overall care management process for high acuity engaged patients. The NCM has oversight for developing, managing, and coordinating patients’ plan of care to include medical and psychosocial needs and patient-centered goals. The NCM works with patients/caregivers to maintain and improve health status by providing care coordination, health education, guidance, and support for medical and psychosocial complex chronic conditions. Professionals in this role elicit input from the IDT based on initial and ongoing comprehensive assessments of the patient.

The NCM uses nursing assessment, evaluation skills, data, and reports to guide care planning decisions for the patient. They are skilled at navigating the patients’ health plan benefits to identify providers, resources and vendors that provide required care and services. The NCM works collaboratively with the IDT to provide appropriate, effective, high quality, and cost-effective care to engaged patients in their current residence. If a patient requires care outside their residence, the NCM collaborates with community-based service providers to ensure coordinated care during critical times of transition between health care settings and home.

In addition to the NCM, the HbMC IDT includes but not limited to, physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurse care managers, behavioral health clinicians, social workers, pharmacists, dietitian/nutritionists, ambassadors, care coordinators, the patient and/or caregiver and family.

You’ll enjoy the flexibility to work remotely * from anywhere within the U.S. as you take on some tough challenges.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Identifies barriers to achieving Care Plan goals and collaborates with patient/caregiver as well as IDT to overcome barriers to success
• Maintains HIPAA compliance at all times
• Acts as an advocate for the patient
• Monitors patient during admissions and provides nursing/assisted living facility and provider training on HbMC program philosophy and approach to patient care
• Identifies and reports any potential quality-of-care issues to Clinical Supervisor/HSD, so a plan of improvement can be developed and implemented, as needed
• Completes initial and ongoing patient assessment, using information gathered from patient/caregiver/family, providers, HbMC EMR, and available medical records
• Participates in and documents advance directive conversations with patient/caregiver and/or family, and collaborates to reconcile patient/caregiver goals with the current clinical status
• Promotes patient safety. Reviews or initiates a home safety, functional assessment, and/or falls risk assessment with home-based providers to determine need for adaptive equipment. Assists with acquisition of assistive equipment, as recommended
• Acts as liaison between providers, nursing facilities, hospitals, and program staff, including making recommendations about care alternatives
• Engages and collaborates with patient/caregiver and providers to develop an individualized Care Plan that addresses disease management, health promotion, and patient-centered goals
• Provides disease management, health promotion and prevention education to patients/caregivers and/or family patients to manage disease progression and encourage proper medical testing, so patient can remain as independent as possible
• Manages and coordinates care and services within an Interdisciplinary Team
• Manages incoming clinical calls to ensure patients’ medical concerns are addressed by the care team in a timely manner
• Facilitates/coordinates admission to a recommended level of care on a temporary or permanent basis
• Leads daily IDT Huddle
• Coordinates care needs across the continuum of care and is the point of contact for patient/caregiver and clinicians
• Monitors patient progress against Care Plan goals with an emphasis on patient care needs during times of transition in care setting and changes in health status
• Understands and adheres to regulatory timeframes and standards required by National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) within a Delegated Case Management market and Dual & Chronic Special Needs Plans (SNP)
• Actively participates in HbMC meetings and education sessions
• Supports patients during transitions of care through assessment, coordination of care, education of the plan of care and evaluation of the effectiveness of the plan

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:

• 3+ years of clinical practice in a hospital, home care, hospice, clinic, or nursing home setting
• Adequate presentation skills are needed to prepare and deliver presentations to small groups telephonically or in-person
• Electronic Medical Record documentation experience
• Advanced computer skills: internet navigation, Microsoft Office - Outlook, Word, and Excel
• Understanding of renal and diabetes disease processes and current management practices
• Must be self-motivated, organized, and work independently
• Experience with patients with chronic illness
• Must exhibit leadership skills and be able to collaborate with clinic staff
• Proficient in patient-centered Care Plan creation and active management
• Must hold RN License in the State(s) where you will practice. RN License must be current, active, unrestricted, and unencumbered
• Associate degree or higher in Nursing (RN)
• Excellent professional telephone skills, as well as written and verbal communication skills, are necessary
• Ability to travel up to 10% during the foundational stages of the program
• Ability to develop positive relationships with patients, families, physicians, staff, and other disciplines
• Must have knowledge of the teaching-learning process, principles, and methods of adult education
• Experience where Renal, Chronic Kidney Disease, Nephrology, or Dialysis Care experience was a focus of your job

Preferred Qualifications:

• Proven ability to manage a patient caseload using data and reports
• Case Management experience and CCM Certification
• Ability to obtain multiple state nursing licenses
• Proven ability to complete all work independently and within designated timeframes
• Demonstrates adaptability, flexibility, and ability to maintain a positive attitude during a change in process, practice, or policy
• Experience in a role related to patient education and/or case management
• 1+ years of Utilization Management experience
• Proven advanced interpersonal and telephonic communication skills
• Disease state management experience with a solid ability to educate patients on health and wellness
• BSN
• Population Health management experience
• Proven solid organizational skills

Careers with Optum. Our objective is to make health care simpler and more effective for everyone. With our hands at work across all aspects of health, you can play a role in creating a healthier world, one insight, one connection and one person at a time. We bring together some of the greatest minds and ideas to take health care to its fullest potential, promoting health equity and accessibility. Work with diverse, engaged and high-performing teams to help solve important challenges.

California, Colorado, Connecticut, Nevada, New York, Rhode Island, or Washington Residents Only: The salary range for California, Colorado, Connecticut, Nevada, New York, Rhode Island or Washington residents is $56,300 to $110,400. Pay is based on several factors including but not limited to education, work experience, certifications, etc. In addition to your salary, UnitedHealth Group offers benefits such as, a comprehensive benefits package, incentive and recognition programs, equity stock purchase and 401k contribution (all benefits are subject to eligibility requirements). No matter where or when you begin a career with UnitedHealth Group, you’ll find a far-reaching choice of benefits and incentives.

*All employees working remotely will be required to adhere to UnitedHealth Group’s Telecommuter Policy

At UnitedHealth Group, our mission is to help people live healthier lives and make the health system work better for everyone. We believe everyone–of every race, gender, sexuality, age, location and income–deserves the opportunity to live their healthiest life. Today, however, there are still far too many barriers to good health which are disproportionately experienced by people of color, historically marginalized groups and those with lower incomes. We are committed to mitigating our impact on the environment and enabling and delivering equitable care that addresses health disparities and improves health outcomes — an enterprise priority reflected in our mission.

Diversity creates a healthier atmosphere: UnitedHealth Group is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer 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.

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