Medical Social Worker - Medical Social Services - Full Time

Position Summary:

Supports psycho‐social needs of patients who are currently receiving or recently received hospital based care. The Social Worker strives to enhance the optimized level of health and/or recovery; provide interventions for populations ranging from infants to geriatrics; serve as a resource for the healthcare team, assists in identifying discharge planning needs; and provides support /intervention in stressed filled situations.

Experience:

Minimum two years post graduate experience as a social worker in a similar type of health care setting is strongly preferred. Successful completing a 6 month hospital, based orientation process is required. For staff providing care to patients in the state of New York, LMSW, LSW, or LCSW is required

Essential Functions:

1.Provides psychosocial evaluation to meet patient's medically related social needs. Such services include, but are not limited to: a. Assessment of the social and emotional factors related to the patient's illness, his need for care, his response to treatment, and adjustment to care in the hospital;

b. Assessment of the patients' medical and nursing requirements, home situation, financial resources, and the community resources available in making decisions regarding his discharge.

c. Participates in unit interdisciplinary conferences to identify patients and families need of intervention. d. Identifies problems and develops plan based on evaluation of patient's needs

e. Participates in an on‐call system 24‐hour accessibility and accountability to meet patient needs. f. Receives training to allow the provision of care and services support resources to trauma patients.

g. Responds to consults as required by policy

2.Facilitate discharge planning to meet the patient's needs for continued care (i.e. for skilled nursing, rehabilitation, acute care transfer, or other facilities)

a. Identifying psycho‐social, environmental and financial problems that affect discharge planning.

b. Collaborates with the healthcare team in establishing discharge plan

c. Consults with Case Manager as necessary and requested d. Keeps patient/family/referring facility informed of plan

e. Completes appropriate/required documentation related to transfers

f. Completes documentation on patient status; every 24 hours for acute, every 48 hours for acute for patients with whom we are engaged

3.Documents appropriately to reflect continuous progress in plan of care.

a. Plan of care is documented fully as required

b. Content reflects adequate details to enable extended members of healthcare team to remain informed and implement plan

c. Entries are timely and reflect significant interactions/interventions that occur

d. Hand offs are documented fully by end of each business day

e. Documentation consists of all required regulatory components

4.Assess and facilitate financial needs a. Utilizes various charity funds available in a responsible manner according to policies/procedures

b. Assists patients / families with financial applications (PAMA, NYMA, disability paperwork, etc.)

c. Collaborates with Case Manager, Patient Business office, etc. to facilitate meeting financial needs

5.Support patient/family/others during crisis situations

a. Provide intervention for trauma and other psycho‐social crisis situations throughout the hospital

b. Assist Clinical Coordinator/others with crisis interventions when on‐call c. Provides interventions for identified high‐risk patients (i.e. abuse, neglect, substance abuse, etc.)

Other Duties:

Performs other duties as assigned.