Years
Erika Sabattis
RN Case Manager
Summary
Dedicated Hospital Case Manager with over 8 years of diverse experience across settings including acute rehabilitation units, long-term acute care hospitals, inpatient medical/surgical units, trauma/orthopedic units, ICUs, emergency departments, and outpatient settings. Committed to advocating for equitable access to healthcare resources and ensuring safe, timely discharges. Certified Case Manager (CCM) with a holistic, patient-centered approach, adept at educating patients and families on navigating complex healthcare systems. Deeply committed to delivering empathetic, patient-centered care to all individuals, regardless of race, gender, religious beliefs, cultural background, lifestyle choices, or medical history.
Overview
10
10
Work History
RN Case Manager - Med/Surg, Tele, ICU, ER
San Leandro Hospital
8 2023 - Current
- Experienced Care Coordinator: Spearhead care coordination for vulnerable populations and complex cases, ensuring optimal communication and resource allocation to enhance patient outcomes and streamline transitions of care
- Financial Steward: Monitoring patient outcomes, readmission rates, and service utilization to inform quality improvement initiatives and adhere to organizational policy
- Dynamic and Innovative Discharge Planning: Design and implement comprehensive discharge plans that prioritize patient safety and continuity of care, resulting in improved patient satisfaction and reduced readmission rates
- Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Facilitate collaboration among interdisciplinary teams, enhancing collective decision-making and fostering a holistic approach to patient management. Mentored new nursing staff, facilitating a faster learning curve and increased overall team efficiency.
- Education & Empowerment: Deliver tailored education to patients and families on navigating complex healthcare systems, empowering them to make informed decisions regarding their care. Reduced hospital readmission rates with proactive follow-up care and patient education on self-management techniques.
Travel ARU RN Case Manager
San Leandro Acute Rehab
06.2023 - 08.2023
- Comprehensive Assessments: Conducted thorough patient assessments upon admission, initiating effective discharge planning that aligned with individual care needs and insurance requirements, ensuring smooth transitions to home or lower levels of care when necessary
- Insurance Expertise: Leveraged in-depth knowledge of insurance policies and regulatory standards to evaluate treatment plans, proactively managing cases that did not meet criteria through effective communication with physicians and utilization review advisors
- Provided education to patients and their families regarding insurance coverage, benefits, and the requirements for a safe discharge, with knowledge of appropriate length of stay
- Proactively addressed cases that did not meet established criteria by coordinating with attending physicians and utilization review advisors, collaborating with physicians on medical necessity determinations, and effectively managing denials and appeals
Travel LTAC RN Case Manager
Kentfield Hospital
05.2022 - 05.2023
- Coordinated comprehensive discharge planning for high-acuity patients requiring specialized care, including mechanical ventilation, complex wound management, tube feeding, and dialysis
- Facilitated family meetings to address both long-term and short-term planning needs, ensuring that family concerns and dynamics were appropriately acknowledged and managed, fostering open communication to ensure alignment with patient and family expectations
- Oversaw the maintenance of insurance authorizations and ensure effective financial stewardship throughout the care process
- Consulted with patients and families to clarify goals of care, supporting physicians in advanced care planning, and honoring established code statuses
- Arranged for hospice and palliative care services as needed
ER Case Manager, Utilization Review Nurse
Northern Nevada Medical Center
01.2021 - 04.2022
- Developed a case management role in collaboration with the Case Management Supervisor and ER staff, providing crucial support in the ER and frequently covering ICU needs due to staffing demands
- Conducted thorough reviews of potential admissions for medical necessity, ensuring compliance with federal, state, and organizational requirements while adhering to EMTALA protocols
- Assessed both medical and psychosocial needs of patients, implementing and evaluating pre-admission, inpatient, and observation plans to initiate effective discharge planning toward the appropriate next level of care and follow-up requirements and reducing unnecessary re-admissions
- Expertly managed safe discharge planning for vulnerable populations, including frail elders, unhoused individuals, sexual assault survivors, individuals under legal holds, and youth in crisis
- Responsible for reporting to Child Protective Services (CPS), Adult Protective Services (APS), and local authorities as required, ensuring patient safety and compliance
- Leveraged extensive knowledge of local resources and managed care systems, including Medicare and Medicaid, to navigate enrollment requirements and maximize patient benefits
- Ensured timely and accurate legal hold documentation, coordinating necessary court appearances and recertification
- Expertly managed safe discharge planning for vulnerable populations, including frail elders, unhoused individuals, sexual assault survivors, individuals under legal holds, and youth in crisis.
- Partnered with ER physicians and community health clinics to establish care pathways for uninsured and underinsured patients, focusing on those with unmanaged chronic conditions to determine appropriate admission necessity versus outpatient support
RN Care Coordinator - Orthopedics and Trauma/Surgery Unit
Cedars Sinai Medical Center
02.2019 - 12.2020
- Obtained insurance authorizations for hospital admissions, services, equipment, and admission authorizations to ARU, LTAC, and SNF
- Coordinated with physicians, health plans, and accepting hospitals to effectively manage and implement transfers to in-network facilities, ensuring seamless continuity of care
- Obtained insurance authorizations for hospital admissions, services, and equipment, facilitating admissions to Acute Rehabilitation Units (ARU), Long-Term Acute Care (LTAC), and Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNF)
- Developed and implemented personalized care plans utilizing evidence-based practices and medical necessity criteria, ensuring the delivery of high-quality, efficient, and cost-effective care
- Educated patients and families on accessing and navigating outpatient care services and recommended follow-up, empowering them to take an active role in their healthcare journies
RN Out-Patient Case Manager
Los Angeles LGBT Center
10.2016 - 01.2019
- Provided compassionate care to patients living with chronic diseases and co-morbidities, specializing in HIV and infectious diseases, while ensuring affirming and culturally competent support for gender-diverse individuals and the LGBTQIA+ population
- Engaged in case conferences to effectively manage a caseload of over 250 patients, working to eliminate barriers to care, develop individualized care plans, and track progress through ongoing monitoring and coordination
- Served as part of an RN/SW dyad responsible for assessing clients' medical and psychosocial needs, working closely with physicians to create treatment objectives that align with patients' goals and desired outcomes
- Coordinated care for patients enrolled in FFS Medi-Cal, Managed Care Medi-Cal, Medicare, and the Ryan White program, ensuring equitable access to healthcare services for all individuals, regardless of their background
- Educated patients on disease management and self-care techniques, promoting lifestyle changes for improved health.
Research Nurse
Quest Clinical Research
08.2014 - 09.2016
- Planned, implemented, and evaluated clinical research trials in HIV and Hepatitis C, coordinating care per protocol-defined schedules
- Screened and consented participants, performed assessments including EKGs and vital signs, and established venous access for IV infusions.
- Ensured adherence to protocols from pharmaceutical sponsors, maintaining compliance with FDA guidelines through proper documentation.
- Reduced protocol deviations by providing thorough training on study procedures to both staff members and participants alike.
- Increased patient retention rates within longitudinal studies through consistent engagement efforts such as regular phone calls or check-ins to address concerns or questions about the research process.
- Maintained extensive documentation of patient progress, treatment plans, and adverse reactions to ensure complete records for future reference and regulatory compliance.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
University of Vermont
Burlington, VT01-2012
Skills
Comprehensive Case Management
Discharge Planning & Care Coordination
Patient Advocacy & Education
Utilization Review & Denial Management
Chronic Disease Management
Interdisciplinary Team Collaboration
Insurance knowledge
Problem-Solving & Critical Thinking
Dynamic
Certification
AIDS Certified Registered Nurse
Recognition
- Northern Nevada Nurses of Achievement Nominee
- Daisy Award Nominee
- Staff Appreciation Recognition for Excellence in Emergency Room Case Management
Published Work
The Comparison of Urban Versus Rural Education In Bangladesh, Sabattis, E., et al., University of Vermont, Student Research Conference, 04/01/12
Volunteer Experience
- Manny's Cafe Community Trash Clean-Up, San Francisco, CA, 01/01/23 - Present
- Burning Man Emergency Services, Black Rock City, NV, 08/01/18
- Maitri Compassionate Care, San Francisco, CA, 03/01/13 - 09/01/15
- Growing Home Community Garden, San Francisco, CA, 05/01/13 - 09/01/14
Timeline
Travel ARU RN Case Manager
San Leandro Acute Rehab
06.2023 - 08.2023
Travel LTAC RN Case Manager
Kentfield Hospital
05.2022 - 05.2023
ER Case Manager, Utilization Review Nurse
Northern Nevada Medical Center
01.2021 - 04.2022
RN Care Coordinator - Orthopedics and Trauma/Surgery Unit
Cedars Sinai Medical Center
02.2019 - 12.2020
RN Out-Patient Case Manager
Los Angeles LGBT Center
10.2016 - 01.2019
Research Nurse
Quest Clinical Research
08.2014 - 09.2016
RN Case Manager - Med/Surg, Tele, ICU, ER
San Leandro Hospital
8 2023 - Current
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
University of Vermont