How to hire a discharge planner

How to hire a discharge planner, step by step

Here's a step-by-step discharge planner hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a discharge planner job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new discharge planner
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your discharge planner job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a discharge planner for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A discharge planner's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, discharge planners from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list presents discharge planner salaries for various positions.

   Type of Discharge Planner	Description	Hourly rate
   Discharge Planner	Registered nurses (RNs) provide and coordinate patient care, educate patients and the public about various health conditions, and provide advice and emotional support to patients and their family members.	$15-39
   Student Nurse	A Student Nurse is responsible for treating and taking care of a patient's needs while upholding all the rules and medical regulations of a hospital or clinic. They work and function under the supervision of a Clinical Instructor while still gaining practical experience... Show more	$12-25
   Staff Nurse	Staff nurses are registered nurses who are usually assigned to work in a care home, a company, or in a clinical setting. They advise the physical assessments of patients, employees, and residents... Show more	$20-52

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Patients
   • Social Work
   • Home Health
   • Acute Care
   • Patient Care
   • Social Services
   • Medicaid
   • Substance Abuse
   • Utilization Management
   • Patient Discharge
   • Discharge Planning
   • Community Agencies
   • Care Coordination
   • Care Services

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage full caseload of patients providing both supportive and educational counseling as well as utilization review and case management services.
   • Assist patients with completing Medicaid applications.
   • Coordinate and facilitate patient placement post discharge in clinical facilities, including SNF and rehabilitation programs.
   • Maintain verbal contact with family/petitioner, in compliance with HIPAA and JCAHO policy, with regards to consumer needs.
   • Facilitate transportation prior to approval from Medicaid including ambulance transfer.
   • Follow and adhere to facility policies and procedures implementing HIPAA requirements

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your discharge planner job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A discharge planner can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, discharge planners' average salary in south carolina is 47% less than in district of columbia.
   • Seniority. Entry-level discharge planners 60% less than senior-level discharge planners.
   • Certifications. A discharge planner with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a discharge planner's salary.

   Average discharge planner salary

   $52,855yearly

   $25.41 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level discharge planner salary

   $33,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 30, 2025

4. Writing a discharge planner job description

   A discharge planner job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a discharge planner job description:

   Discharge planner job description example

   This position earns competitive compensation plus a full benefits package, including 401(k) with match and three weeks of PTO! We also offer opportunities for growth , as well as a great team atmosphere that empowers you to seek better ways to deliver service and take ownership of outcomes in providing quality service and support.

   Education and/or Experience

   • Registered Nurse with valid FL DOH License
   • 1-2 years of clinical experience with case management experience preferred.

   Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

   FL RN License any certifications or licenses received, e.g. RN, CPR etc. must be kept current.

   Please review the full job description for more details about this exciting opportunity.

   ABOUT MILLENNIUM PHYSICIAN GROUP

   Formed in 2008, Millennium Physician Group has grown into one of the largest comprehensive primary care practices with more than 400 health care providers located throughout Florida. With corporate headquarters in Fort Myers, Florida, Millennium Physician Group consists of primary care offices, Imaging Centers, Lab Services, and Wellness Programs. You can also find various programs, such as weight management and smoking cessation, led by Millennium Physician Group doctors.

   If you are interested in joining an organization that emphasizes teamwork and family, then Millennium Physician Group is the right choice.

   Millennium's core values summarize how we treat others, patients, and fellow community members. Millennium CARES for every patient every time.

   Millennium Physician Group is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and a Drug-Free Workplace. Additionally, Millennium is proud to join the nearly 3,000 health system and physician groups who have gone completely Tobacco Free.

   ARE YOU READY TO JOIN OUR ACO TEAM?

   If you feel that you would be right for this position, please click the link to apply today. We look forward to meeting you!

   
   
   Job Posted by ApplicantPro
   

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find discharge planners for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   To find discharge planner candidates, you can consider the following options:

   • Post your job opening on Zippia or other job search websites.
   • Use niche websites that focus on engineering and technology jobs, such as healthcarejobsite, health jobs nationwide, hospitalcareers, medreps.com.
   • Post your job on free job posting websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit discharge planners, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new discharge planner

   Once you've selected the best discharge planner candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new discharge planner. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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