Medical Social Worker - Triage Coordinator

Hospice Buffalo • Buffalo, NY

6d

About The Position

The Medical Social Worker - Triage Coordinator supports the day-to-day clinical functions of the team and coordinates patient care within the scope of practice. The role serves as a liaison between the department Manager/Director and Hospice Buffalo staff, patients and families, and outside agencies. It helps maintain office processes, applies strong clinical awareness, facilitates field supervision, and may include direct patient care.

The coordinator supports social work and spiritual care triage, assignment, training, mentoring, and department development. The position may also help cover daily team operations, make field visits across care settings, prepare reports and analytics, and support field staff with Medicaid assistance. The role participates in on-call and holiday rotations.

Requirements

• Master's degree in Social Work from an accredited school.
• Current licensure in the State of New York.
• Valid driver's license free of serious violations.
• Vehicle required for use when on duty or on call.

Nice To Haves

• Relevant clinical social work experience in a health care setting.
• Hospice or palliative care experience.

Responsibilities

• Assist with coordination, triage, and implementation of patient plans of care.
• Collaborate with the interdisciplinary and Management Team.
• Facilitate professional communication with outside agencies, patients, primary caregivers, or designees regarding questions and concerns.
• Provide skilled social work services, including counseling, support, advocacy, long-term planning, community resource coordination, and crisis intervention related to terminal illness.
• Observe, record, and report patient and family reactions to treatment and changes in patient condition to the physician, patient case manager, and other involved staff.
• Help physicians and other home health team members understand the significance of social and emotional factors.
• Assess and reassess social and emotional factors to help patients and families cope with daily living problems and follow medical recommendations.
• Provide patient, family, and caregiver teaching as appropriate.
• Follow Social Work Quality Assurance standards, keep current with social work trends and knowledge, and assist with audits and peer reviews as directed.
• Complete timely documentation and data entry within Hospice deadlines.
• Follow CHPC and Hospice Buffalo policies and procedures, including HIPAA requirements, and maintain the security of electronic and written patient records.
• Assist the team with administrative functions as needed.
• Periodically perform basic supervisory functions to cover daily team operations when needed.
• Assist with field supervision as requested and occasionally make field visits in various care settings.
• Triage and assign social work and spiritual care needs.
• Assist with Social Work and Spiritual Care training, mentoring, and department development.
• Prepare the on-call weekend report, five-day IDG review, spreadsheets, reports, and analytics data.
• Provide Medicaid assistance to support staff in the field.
• Represent departmental standards at General Orientation and other agency presentations as appropriate.
• Participate in the on-call and holiday rotation.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Employer 401(k) contribution regardless of employee participation, with an additional matching contribution for participating employees.
• Health insurance with a vision component copayment plan or a high-deductible plan for full-time employees.
• Employer HSA contribution twice annually for full-time employees enrolled in a high-deductible health plan.
• Dental insurance for full-time employees.
• Flexible Spending Account for full-time employees.
• Paid Time Off and New York State Sick Leave.
• Tuition Assistance Program.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time