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The differences between discharge planners and case managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a discharge planner, becoming a case manager takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a discharge planner has an average salary of $52,855, which is higher than the $43,118 average annual salary of a case manager.
The top three skills for a discharge planner include patients, social work and home health. The most important skills for a case manager are social work, patients, and community resources.
| Discharge Planner | Case Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $52,855 | $43,118 |
| Hourly rate | $25.41 | $20.73 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 31,021 | 84,959 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4.5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Average age | 44 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 4 |
In the health industry, a discharge planner is primarily responsible for assessing and meeting the patients' needs as they transition to their lives after being in the hospital. It is their duty to study the patients' medical history, provide discharge summaries to the patients' insurance providers, arrange services with external parties such as rehabilitation centers or therapists, and develop discharge plans that would guide the patients' on their journey to recovery. Moreover, they coordinate with medical experts and work with the patients' families to ensure the patient's welfare.
A case manager is responsible for giving advice, handling plans for the client's recovery, and connecting with other human service professionals to ask for further options and recommendations for the client's concerns. Case managers should have excellent communication and listening skills to evaluate the client's needs, ensuring that they will have the utmost care and safety through efficient advocacy. A case manager should be able to provide a reliable support system for the client and monitor progress to achieve wellness and guarantee satisfaction.
Discharge planners and case managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Discharge Planner | Case Manager | |
| Average salary | $52,855 | $43,118 |
| Salary range | Between $33,000 And $82,000 | Between $30,000 And $61,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | - | New Hampshire |
| Best paying company | - | Wellpath |
| Best paying industry | - | Insurance |
There are a few differences between a discharge planner and a case manager in terms of educational background:
| Discharge Planner | Case Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Most common major | Social Work | Psychology |
| Most common college | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between discharge planners' and case managers' demographics:
| Discharge Planner | Case Manager | |
| Average age | 44 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 13.6% Female, 86.4% | Male, 23.4% Female, 76.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.3% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 9.3% Asian, 8.9% White, 65.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 7.9% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 3.1% White, 74.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 15% |