Hospice Medical Social Worker

Position Summary

As Hospice Medical Social Worker (MSW), you are essential in?providing compassionate care to those facing end-of-life issues. It’s the MSW duty to provide not only emotional guidance and practical help but also medical care coordination that can improve a patient's quality of life throughout their journey. As a Medical Social Worker, you will be responsible for psychosocial evaluations, ongoing counsel, bereavement services and community education outreach. Working in accordance with the plan of care, you will provide physical, emotional, and spiritual support to patients and families when it's needed most.

Position Summary Expanded:

Under the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana and Patient Protection Act, (“The Unity Bill”) this position is considered a “Safety-sensitive position. “Safety-sensitive” is defined to include “any job that includes tasks or duties that could affect the safety and health of the employee performing the task or others.” Employees working in “safety-sensitive” roles are subject to this exception and subject to disciplinary action in the event of a positive test for marijuana or its metabolites.

Position Responsibilities

• Participates in referral evaluation to ensure appropriate admissions.
• Implements hospice information visits and signs up visits as directed.
• Assesses patients and their families for psychological needs and concerns according to policy.
• Participates in developing the full Interdisciplinary Team plan of care according to policy.
• Coordinates psychological care to meet the needs and concerns of the patient and family in a manner that is meaningful to them.
• Acts as a liaison as needed between hospice team and patient/family support systems.
• Visits hospice patients/families as directed by the IDT.
• Documents all visits and phone calls, and places documentation in clinical records according to policy.
• Serves as a member of IDT and attends team meetings.
• Utilizes all available resources such as community agencies to assist patients and their families so they may live better within the limitations of their illness.
• Responds to patient/family needs promptly after hours when serving on call.
• Participates in continuing education for hospice staff.
• Coordinates or participates in presenting hospice programs for staff, volunteers, and the communities as large.
• All other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Position Qualifications

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Excellent time management skills, with a proven ability to meet deadlines.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to function well in a high-paced, and at times, stressful environment.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite or related software
• Master’s degree in social work.
• 1-2 years’ experience in home health or hospice, LTCF preferred.

Certificates and Licenses

• Valid Driver’s License
• Current auto insurance verification
• AHA BLS Certification

Patient Rights

Promotes and protects patients’ rights; treats patients with dignity and respect; reports suspected abuse or neglect.

Leadership

Demonstrates willingness to try new tasks; generates new ideas for change; evaluates and recognizes priorities; communicates and models organizational values; fosters high performance; recognizes need for and provides adequate resources.

Process Improvement

Applies process improvement methods and techniques; assists in data collection; identifies processes for improvement in daily work; and assists in education of new employees in the team process.

Environment Of Care

Demonstrates understanding of fire and emergency procedures; participates in fire and disaster drills; demonstrates understanding of safety and security procedures; applies safety and security precautions; demonstrates understanding of hazardous materials plan; demonstrates proper use of equipment.

Infection Control

Applies hand-washing principles during daily work; demonstrates understanding of isolation precautions; recognizes signs and symptoms of infection and complies with the employee health program; demonstrates understanding of the process for identifying and handling infectious waste; maintains personal hygiene; complies with OSHA standards in the workplace; and demonstrates understanding of cross-contamination.

Information Management

Enters or records data timely and accurately; protects confidentiality of patient information; protects data against loss or destruction; reports suspected violation of security/confidentiality issues.

LANGUAGE SKILLS

English is the primary language of the facility. Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of executives, managers, clients, customers, and the public.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS

Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions and decimals.

REASONING ABILITY

Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instruction furnished in written, oral and/or diagram form. Ability to define and solve problems, interpret data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions.

COMPUTER SKILLS

To perform this job successfully, an individual should have knowledge of word processing software and spreadsheet software as well as Point of Care systems. Must also have experience with internet and email systems.