Medical Social Worker - Triage Coordinator

Hospice Buffalo • Buffalo, NY

8d • $37 - $42

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 position also performs the functions of a field clinical social worker, providing services such as counseling, support, advocacy, long-term planning, community resource coordination, and crisis intervention to promote patient well-being, comfort, and dignity throughout the dying process. The coordinator assists with triage and assignment of social work and spiritual care needs, team administration, training and mentoring, reporting, and department development. The role participates in on-call and holiday rotations and may make field visits in various care settings.

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.

Responsibilities

• Assist in coordinating, triaging, and implementing patient plans of care.
• Collaborate effectively with the interdisciplinary and Management Teams.
• Facilitate professional communication with outside agencies, patients, primary caregivers, and designees regarding questions or concerns.
• Provide skilled social work services, including counseling, support, advocacy, long-term planning, community resource coordination, and crisis intervention.
• Observe, record, and report patient and family reactions to treatment and changes in the patient's condition to the physician, patient case manager, and other involved staff.
• Help the physician and other home health team members understand the significance of social and emotional factors.
• Assess and reassess social and emotional factors affecting patients and families, supporting daily living and adherence to medical recommendations.
• Teach patients, families, and caregivers in applicable situations.
• Follow Social Work Quality Assurance standards, stay current with social work trends and knowledge, and assist with audits and peer reviews as directed.
• Complete documentation and data entry within Hospice time frames and deadlines.
• Follow CHPC and Hospice Buffalo patient-focused and organizational policies and procedures, including HIPAA requirements.
• Maintain the security of electronic and written patient records.
• Assist the team with administrative functions and periodically perform basic supervisor 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 on-call weekend reports, five-day IDG reviews, spreadsheets, reports, and analytics data.
• Provide Medicaid assistance to support staff in the field.
• Participate in General Orientation and other agency presentations to represent departmental standards.
• 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 when the employee participates.
• Health insurance with a vision component copayment plan or a high-deductible plan for full-time employees.
• HSA with twice-annual employer contributions for employees enrolled in the 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