Inpatient Medical Social Worker

Advocate Health

1d•$31 - $46

About The Position

The Inpatient Medical Social Worker provides psychosocial assessment, intervention, follow-up, and discharge planning for patients and families. The role collaborates with patients, families, the multidisciplinary healthcare team, community agencies, and post-acute providers to coordinate safe, timely care and support patient choice, satisfaction, and outcomes. The social worker helps identify and resolve barriers to discharge, coordinates services across the care continuum, and supports utilization management and regulatory activities as required by site guidelines. The position also connects patients and families with community resources and support for matters such as suspected abuse or neglect, domestic violence, guardianship, bereavement, ethical concerns, advance directives, and end-of-life issues. It includes documentation, patient and family education, participation in legal proceedings when necessary, and orientation or education for new staff and social work students. The role maintains professional standards, licensure, and continuing education, and provides care appropriate to patients’ age-specific needs. This is a full-time position, 40 hours per week, with a Monday–Friday day schedule. Weekend, holiday, and evening coverage may be required according to site needs. The position involves travel and work in both office and patient-care environments, including possible exposure to hazardous materials and life-threatening diseases; personal protective equipment must be used as ordered. The work is fast-paced and includes sitting, standing, speaking, reading, writing, and walking throughout the workday.

Requirements

Master’s degree in social work from a Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)-accredited school.
Typically requires 2 years of social work experience in healthcare.
Illinois: LSW eligibility; LCSW preferred, issued by the State of Illinois.
Wisconsin: Social Work Certification issued by the State of Wisconsin.
Connecticut: Master’s in Social Work required; LCSW preferred; applicable state certification preferred.
Georgia: Applicable state certification preferred.
Adherence to the National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics.
Demonstrated knowledge of social work principles and methods and ability to apply them in a healthcare setting.
Demonstrated time-management, professional-accountability, and documentation skills.
Demonstrated communication skills and ability to collaborate within a multidisciplinary team.
Demonstrates and acts in accordance with safety principles of an accountable care organization.
Ability to operate all equipment necessary to perform the job.
Ability to meet the position’s physical demands, including sitting, standing, speaking, reading, writing, and walking throughout the workday.
Ability to travel and work in office and patient-care environments, using personal protective equipment as ordered when exposed to hazards.

Nice To Haves

LCSW preferred where specified.
Applicable state certification preferred for Connecticut and Georgia.

Responsibilities

Conduct complete assessments, establish appropriate plans, and initiate interventions within desired timeframes.
Provide psychosocial assessment, screening, needs evaluation, interventions, follow-up, and discharge planning for patients and families.
Collaborate with patients, families, and the care team to develop and implement plans that address patient care needs, choices, and satisfaction.
Participate in multidisciplinary coordination of care, including post-acute placement, palliative and hospice services, medical equipment, home healthcare, outpatient follow-up, mental health resources, and community services.
Advocate for patient involvement in the plan of care and coordinate interventions with other healthcare team members.
Complete utilization management activities as required, including clinical updates to payers or external review organizations, data collection, denial coordination, and management of avoidable delays.
Deliver CMS regulatory notices within established timeframes as appropriate under site guidelines.
Work with the RN Care Manager, support personnel, medical staff, hospital departments, and ancillary services to resolve barriers to discharge and avoid delays in care.
Maintain knowledge of community resources, legislation, healthcare regulations, and reimbursement issues, and educate patients and families as appropriate.
Connect patients to agencies and services regarding suspected abuse or neglect, domestic violence, guardianship, and other social matters.
Provide resources and support for timely discharge, continuity of care, bereavement and loss, ethical issues, advance directives, and end-of-life concerns.
Collaborate with community agencies and institutions to plan continued care and coordinate interventions.
Communicate with patients, families, healthcare team members, and community agencies to resolve issues affecting continuity of care; document activities according to department and program standards.
Manage patient progression and care across the continuum to optimize length of stay, ensure appropriate level of care, and reduce unnecessary readmissions.
Coordinate patient care within an ACO environment and contribute to site-specific goals and patient outcomes.
Participate in orientation of new staff and education of social work students.
Educate patients and families about advance directives and assist with execution of documents as appropriate; participate in legal proceedings as necessary to secure legal decision-makers.
Maintain professional practice according to accreditation, hospital, system, state, and NASW standards and Code of Ethics.
Complete continuing education required to maintain licensure and develop knowledge in the practice specialty.
Demonstrate knowledge and skills needed to provide age-appropriate care and assess and interpret patient information in accordance with departmental policies and procedures.