Medical Social Worker

Medical Social Worker

Requirements

• New York State Licensure (LMSW) required as of 7/01/16
• Master of Social Work degree from an accredited school of Social Work Program
• One year as graduate student or as a social worker with experience in the field of Clinical Social Work with experience in care transitions
• Ability to create collegial and collaborative relationships internally and externally
• Knowledge of accreditation standards, health care regulations, performance improvement and patient safety
• Effective organization, oral and written communication skills, problem solving, program development and computer skills
• Knowledge of health care law and regulations related to acute care and the immediate post-acute continuum
• Ability to complete a psychosocial assessment, risk factor analysis, treatment planning, and models of intervention

Responsibilities

• Works with the Case Manager and the treatment team to develop a safe and timely Discharge Plan A and B that complies with regulations and laws regarding patient and family wishes
• Identifies the need for and conducts family meetings that result in comfort, decisions, and other important outcomes
• Serves as the lead in obtaining charity and financial resources, legal guardianship, adoptions, psychiatric referrals, and competency determinations
• Leads or co-leads Care Coordination Rounds
• Help create function and productivity on the many teams to which the SW belongs, facilitating the resolution of conflict to present a united message to patients and families
• Acknowledge issues of diversity and adjust practice accordingly
• Works with people and agencies in the community to improve responsiveness, capabilities, alignment, and evaluation of services to patients and families
• Collaborate with Risk Management, Patient Relations, Utilization Management, and Quality Management about potential problems and preclude outcomes detrimental to AMC
• Base individual practice patterns on a sound knowledge base of social work principles and methodologies, social work policies, and the NASW Code of Ethics
• Demonstrate flexibility in providing department coverage as needed, including possible modification of role, responsibilities, and assigned caseload
• Completes initial screen of patients and families and a comprehensive psychosocial assessment of patients
• Assists patients and families in understanding their illness and treatments options, as well as consequences to various treatments or refusal of treatment
• Assists patients and families in communicating with treatment team
• Provides crisis intervention
• Advocates for patient care and timely discharge plan
• Coordinates patient discharge and continuity of care planning
• Educates hospital staff on patient psychosocial needs
• Educates patients and families on levels of care; acute, sub-acute, community services and resources

Preferred Qualifications

No preferred qualifications provided.