Medical Social Worker (Per Diem)
About The Position
Working under department management, the Medical Social Worker partners with the RN Case Manager and other healthcare professionals to ensure continuity and coordination of care for patients and families. The role provides consultation about social, environmental, psychological, financial, and cultural factors related to illness and hospitalization, supports continuity in care management, and coordinates discharge planning. The position provides clinical social work services for an assigned patient population, including psychosocial assessment and support, care planning, referrals, crisis intervention, and coordination of care. The Medical Social Worker collaborates with patients, families, and the interdisciplinary team to promote appropriate care progression, address barriers, support patient advocacy, and improve outcomes. This is a per diem position covered by a collective bargaining agreement between EvergreenHealth and SEIU Healthcare 1199NW; union membership is optional.
Requirements
- Master’s degree in Social Work.
- One of the following credentials: Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW), Licensed Advanced Social Worker (LASW), or Social Worker Associate, with a requirement to obtain full licensure as an LICSW or LASW within four years of hire.
- Age-specific or behavior-specific knowledge and experience working with patient populations relevant to the assignment, such as children, older adults, or people with emotional or behavioral dysfunction.
- Oral and written language skills, and visual and aural skills, to communicate effectively, provide for patient needs, and maintain a legal record of care.
- Accountability for professional practice and commitment to patient care and upholding the Patient Bill of Rights.
- Current Healthcare Provider BLS from the American Heart Association by the start date.
Nice To Haves
- Two to three years of social work experience in a hospital or community setting is preferred.
- Two years of hospital-setting experience is strongly desired.
- Case Management or other certification.
Responsibilities
- Manage a daily caseload of selected patients and provide clinical social work services to patients and families.
- Apply working knowledge of diagnoses common to the assigned patient population.
- Incorporate patients’ psychosocial needs in the context of developmental stage, age, functional abilities, culture, and support system.
- Assess and address support systems, resources, barriers to care and care progression, discharge coordination, referrals, and psychosocial service needs.
- Provide psychosocial and behavioral health support for complex patient and family needs, including crisis intervention, drug and alcohol screening, grief and bereavement services, domestic violence, abuse and neglect, and individual or group support.
- Proactively manage care progression to the appropriate level of care and recommend changes to care plans as needed to improve outcomes.
- Advocate for patients by empowering them and their families to participate in care as appropriate.
- Facilitate communication and collaboration among the healthcare team, patients, and families.
- Partner with the RN Case Manager on interventions that support clinical satisfaction and financial and compliance outcomes.
- Help patients and families adjust to and cope with illness, disability, or functional decline.
- Promote fiscal stewardship and efficient, appropriate use of resources.
- Lead on legal, guardianship, decision-making, and self-determination issues.
- Contribute interdisciplinary leadership in determining goals of care and discharge plans and identifying and addressing barriers to care progression.
- Use complex clinical decision-making and multitasking skills.
- Complete and distribute required legal and clinical documentation.
- Participate in developing, implementing, evaluating, and revising quality, safety, and fiscal initiatives to improve outcomes.
- Respond to emergent patient crisis situations, collaborate with the lead, and escalate concerns appropriately to the manager or director.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Benefits
- Washington Paid Sick Leave (WPSL)
- Participation in a 457(b) retirement plan
- Free parking
- Cafeteria and Gift Shop discount
