Social Worker MSW Case Management

Overview

Experience a rewarding and fulfilling career with Mercyhealth. Mercyhealth is committed to offering our partners a best place to work. Our unique workplace Culture of Excellence is built upon:

• Employee engagement, empowerment and growth
• Teamwork toward our common goal – providing exceptional health care services with a passion for making lives better
• An atmosphere of caring and quality that cascades throughout the organization

The Social Worker MSW assesses and assists with complex psychosocial needs of patients, by providing specialized services to address problem-solving and coping behaviors in the acute care setting. The MSW, in collaboration with Patient Navigators and the multidisciplinary team, coordinates services and interventions to promote appropriate utilization of resources and to contribute to improved patient satisfaction and outcomes. The MSW provides complex discharge planning as needed. The MSW is a strong patient advocate and acts as a resource to other department staff as well as other hospital departments in meeting the needs of the complex patient. The MSW intervenes with at-risk patients that require the highest level of continuing care services while ensuring compliance with regulatory standards of care at the organizational, state and federal level.

Responsibilities

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Provides psychosocial assessment, intervention and facilitates referrals to community resources to patients in a variety of care settings.
• Formulates, develops and implements psychosocial treatment plan utilizing appropriate social work interventions that may include crisis intervention, emotional support as well as grief and bereavement services.
• Promotes coping skills and healthy lifestyle changes.
• Assesses patients, for transitional planning needs, including any barriers to discharge, family and social supports, capacity for self-care, adaptive abilities and financial resources.
• Develops individualized, patient-focused plan for meeting continuing care needs.
• Provides education and presents resource options available to patients and families.
• Reviews and assists patients to complete advance directives.
• Organizes, conducts and participates in patient care conferences, to promote understanding of medical recommendations, compliance with the medical care regimen, assist families to understand comfort measures and facilitate family decision-making.
• Provides education, support and counseling to patients/families in regards to issues related to adaptation to the patients' diagnosis/illness/treatment and or life situation.
• Communicates effectively with patients, families and the healthcare team, to ensure that the patient's right to self- determination is met.
• Maintains detailed knowledge of community resources to effectively address patient needs and help to strengthen patient's network of social support.
• Documents plan of care, interventions, patient choices and progress toward goals in a timely and concise manner.
• Facilitates crisis intervention services in the hospital setting as determined by scope of practice.
• Identifies and reports child and/or elder abuse to local authorities according to law.
• Act as a liaison with county officials for patients involved with protective services, aging, developmental disabilities, domestic violence, mental health services and economic support.
• Maintains current knowledge and awareness of payer/reimbursement practice and regulations impacting the patient's plan of care.
• Negotiates care issues as appropriate (indigent issues and availability of resources).
• Promotes customer satisfaction and intervenes at critical moments of service.
• Monitors inpatient readmissions for specialized intervention.
• Provides follow-up for cases as needed.
• Assist with identifying avoidable day information for organizational tracking and trending.

Education and Experience

Masters degree in Social Work from an accredited college or university.Two years related experience and/or training in acute care setting. 

Certification and Licensure

Social Worker License in the state of practice required within six months of hire. Illinois.

Case Management Certification (ACMA) preferred.

Skills and AbilitiesPhone SkillsMust be skilled with use of voice mail and phone features. Must be able to use available technology for language interpretation.Computer SkillsMust have expert knowledge of Allscripts Care Management program and Epic EMR. Must be able to use Microsoft Outlook and have basic knowledge of Excel and Word. Must be able to toggle between computer applications.OTHER QUALIFICATIONSMust be available to work and or be on-call during weekends and holidays, as assigned. On-call requires accessibility by pager or cell phone during assigned hours and ability to respond promptly to pages by phone.Special Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is frequently required to sit, talk, and hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, handle, finger, feel, and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include frequent close vision and occasional distance vision and ability to adjust focus. Specific fine motor abilities required include writing, keyboard entry and mouse use.

Level of Supervision

Assignments are based on abilities and are normally received in the form of results expected and due dates. Only general procedures are available to guide work. Must be able to work independently with minimal guidance.

Supervises

This job has no direct supervisory responsibilities but acts as a consultant for SW staff in the department.