Medical Social Worker - Contingent

JOB SUMMARY

Assists Physician and other health team members in understanding the significant psychological, social and environmental factors related to health problems.   Assess home health and hospice patient’s social and health related needs and initiates and maintains contacts with community service agencies in the area in order to coordinate services. 

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBLITIES

• Works in close collaboration with physicians and other team members in patient evaluation and treatment to further their understanding of significant emotional, social and environmental factors underlying patient’s health problem. 
• Evaluates the psychosocial situation of the patient and family and develops a social work treatment plan. 
• Uses a needs assessment when working with the patient, family and other disciplines to formulate a family centered, individualized care plan. 
• Maintains necessary documentation of patient’s progress, problems and needs. 
• Provides on-going social work services or prepares and refers to appropriate agencies for provision of services in order to:
  • Help patient and family understand, accept and follow medical recommendations and provide services planned to restore the patient to optimum social and health adjustment within his capacity. 
  • Assist patients and their families with personal and environmental difficulties which predispose toward illness or interfere with obtaining maximum benefit from the home health/hospice team. 
  • Provides for mental health counseling on on-going basis to assigned patients. 
• Determines the need for continuing or altering the social work service treatment plan and keeps the health team appraised of the situation. 
• Assists team members in the selection of referrals to, and use of, proper community resources, including social agencies, that will assist the patient to resume life in the community or to learn to live with his disability. 
• Participates in discharge planning and in-service programs. 
• Acts as consultant to other agency personnel. 
• Assists with agency bereavement services with various grief related activities throughout the year. 
• Participates in care conferences and establishment of goals for each patient and family. 
• Assist with education regarding advance directives and assists the patient/family in the completion of standardized forms for living will and durable power of attorney for health care. 
• Consults with other agencies for appropriate information; participates in appropriate inter-agency conferences, and serves as liaison between social work agencies, social service departments, and the home health team. 
• Must have knowledge of and comply with agency policies and procedures to meet the requirements including OSHA, Exposure Control Plan, TB Control Plan, Bloodborne Pathogen Standard, Hazard Communication Program, HIPAA, and all other applicable regulations. 
• Understands and supports the agency’s philosophy, mission, and vision.  Complies with the National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics. 
• Assumes responsibility for personal growth and development, and maintains and upgrades professional knowledge and practice skills through attendance and participation in continuing education and in-service classes. 
• Complies with agency policies and procedures, including maintaining confidentiality of all patients and agency issues. 
• Is familiar with Medicare, Medicaid, and other third party regulations and is responsible to stay current with regulatory changes as they occur. 
• Complies with regulations pertaining to patient service eligibility and service delivery for Medicare, Medicaid, and other payor sources.  Communicates with supervisor immediately when unclear on regulations whether related to patient care, documentation. 
• Complies with agency procedures that will ensure the accuracy of all patient bills remitted to third party payors. 
• Communicates with supervisor or Compliance Officer immediately, if at any time, another employee violating or being requested to violate agency policies they are aware of or government regulations, (i.e.: Medicare or Medicaid or other regulatory bodies). 
• This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by this employee.  He/She will be required to perform any other work related duties by his/her supervisor. 

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

• Bachelors Degree in social work, from an approved school of social work, with one year of prior work experience in a social work position in a health related position. 
• Bachelor’s Degree Required
• Master’s Degree Preferred

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS:

• Must maintain a valid Social Work license, and a valid Ohio driver’s license. 
• Employee is required to maintain a good driving record, a car in good working condition, and agency required auto liability insurance. 
• Is a notary or willing to obtain and maintain license.