CASE MANAGER MSW

Sparrow•Lansing, MI

About The Position

The Case Manager MSW works to resolve or minimize patients’ and families’ social-emotional problems, resource deficits, and continuing-care needs so they can adapt using available community resources. The role provides education and consultation about resources, collaborates on discharge planning, and facilitates and monitors implementation. It also helps patients and families adjust to and cope with illness, diagnoses, treatment options, and prognosis, with priority given to transitions to the next phase of care. The position conducts psychosocial assessments and interventions; coordinates care progression across the continuum; supports utilization management; and communicates with patients, families, interdisciplinary teams, post-acute providers, and payers. The Case Manager advocates for patients, addresses discharge barriers, and works toward timely, appropriate, high-quality, cost-effective care.

Requirements

Licensed as a Social Worker in Michigan (LMSW).
Must be working toward full licensure and complete it within three years in the position.
Master’s degree in Social Work.
Ability to interview, assess, organize, and problem-solve.
Ability to identify appropriate community resources for an assigned caseload and collaborate with patients, families, the interdisciplinary team, and community agencies to achieve desired patient outcomes.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Ability to work independently and exercise sound judgment in interactions with physicians, payers, patients, and families.
Ability to use a keyboard as required to perform essential duties.
Meet mandatory and continuing education and skills competency requirements.

Nice To Haves

BLS certification preferred.
Certification in Case Management preferred.
Experience in acute-care case management, discharge planning, utilization management, performance improvement, and managed-care reimbursement preferred.
Social work experience in an acute-care setting preferred.

Responsibilities

Conduct preliminary risk screenings and assess patients’ and families’ psychosocial risk factors, functioning, support systems, reactions to illness, and ability to cope.
Complete comprehensive assessments of medical condition, adjustment, support systems, finances, housing, behavior, cognition, abuse factors, function, abilities, legal matters, and substance use to identify issues to address before discharge.
Intervene with patients and families regarding the emotional, social, and financial consequences of illness or disability, and mobilize family and community resources to meet identified needs.
Provide intervention in cases involving child abuse or neglect, domestic violence, elder abuse, institutional abuse, and sexual assault.
Provide counseling and intervention related to treatment decisions and end-of-life issues.
Develop short- and long-term plans with patients and families to address identified problems.
Provide emotional support and respect patients’ rights to self-determination and confidentiality.
Address issues including child or adult abuse, substance dependency, suicide, guardianship, conservatorship, durable power of attorney, mental illness, adoption, and voluntary or involuntary committals.
Coordinate and facilitate patient care progression throughout the continuum by assessing, planning, implementing, coordinating, monitoring, and evaluating needed services and options.
Collaborate and communicate with interdisciplinary team members to support timely and appropriate patient management.
Identify and resolve discharge delays and obstacles proactively.
Coordinate care for an assigned caseload, monitor patient progress, and ensure appropriate interventions, focused plans of care, and services are provided.
Facilitate transfers to other facilities when appropriate.
Identify at-risk populations using approved screening tools and follow established reporting procedures.
Monitor and facilitate length of stay and ancillary resource use, taking appropriate actions to improve both.
Provide clear, concise, and timely written documentation.
Communicate information to post-acute care providers and payers to ensure adequate resources for patients.
Communicate effectively and navigate conflicts with patients, families, and care-team members in a diplomatic and empathetic manner.
Negotiate with clinical departments and payers, advocate for patients, and support transitions to the next phase of care.