Oncology Social Worker- JNE

Jefferson Health Plans • Philadelphia, PA

4d • Onsite

About The Position

Provides social work services and assesses and enhances patients’ and their families’ or significant others’ ability to cope with physical, emotional, and environmental problems related to illness, convalescence, and discharge planning. Works collaboratively with the multidisciplinary healthcare team to establish and coordinate safe discharge plans and support the patient’s care progression.

The role includes psychosocial assessment and intervention, counseling, crisis intervention, advocacy, referral to community resources, and coordination with patients, families, case managers, post-acute providers, and other members of the care team. The social worker documents assessments and updates in the electronic medical record throughout hospitalization and discharge planning, and may support weekend discharges, placement processes, insurance applications, and treatment or end-of-life decisions. The position may also supervise MSW student field placements and mentor new staff.

Requirements

• Master’s degree from an accredited Master of Social Work program; Master of Social Work degree required.
• Two years of hospital-based social work experience.
• Knowledge of medical terminology and disease processes, community resources, and insurance regulations and requirements.
• Skill in working with multidisciplinary teams, outside resources, patients, families, and significant others.
• Ability to establish an appropriate plan to safely discharge patients to the next level of care.

Responsibilities

• Interact with co-workers, visitors, and other staff consistent with Jefferson’s values.
• Conduct psychosocial assessments of patients and significant others, considering social, emotional, and cognitive capabilities in relation to illness and health maintenance needs.
• Develop and implement interventions addressing needs and problems identified during assessment.
• Collaborate with the multidisciplinary team to support appropriate discharge planning.
• Counsel patients, families, and significant others on coping with new diagnoses, chronic illness, palliative care, and terminal care.
• Advocate for patients and families to help them obtain necessary services.
• Provide counseling and intervention concerning treatment decisions and end-of-life care.
• Refer patients and significant others to community-based services and resources to meet continuum-of-care needs.
• Coordinate team and family conferences when needed to facilitate patient care progression.
• Provide psychosocial counseling and crisis interventions, including interventions involving abuse, neglect, guardianship, foster care, adoption, psychiatric assessment and placement, advance directives, trauma, and substance abuse.
• Facilitate placement-related documentation, including nursing home grants and applications, and complete referrals to options programs when appropriate.
• Document in accordance with hospital and departmental requirements, including updates in the electronic medical record throughout hospitalization and discharge planning.
• Work with Case Managers to provide discharge planning in accordance with departmental policies and procedures, in collaboration with the multidisciplinary team and patient or family.
• Identify patients and locate family members or next of kin.
• Educate patients and significant others about obtaining health insurance and provide documents or information needed to apply for welfare insurance.
• Initiate or ensure initiation of medical assistance applications as applicable and follow up with external services regarding applications.
• Supervise MSW student field placements.
• Refer cases to the Placement Official Social Worker when appropriate to assist with discharge placement.
• Precept and mentor new staff members.
• Facilitate and coordinate discharge plans for patients expected to leave on weekends, including home care or hospice, transportation, and post-acute facility placement.
• Perform assessments and develop interventions specifically for trauma patients when applicable.
• Obtain relevant post-acute authorizations.
• Manage Livanta appeal determinations and address alternate discharge plans when necessary.
• Provide post-acute facility liaisons with updates regarding possible weekend discharges.
• Review discharge orders to determine which patients can transition to the next level of care that day.
• Assist with relevant 302 paperwork when necessary.
• Document updates for weekday staff according to department procedures.

Benefits

• Medical insurance, including prescription coverage
• Supplemental insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Life and AD&D insurance
• Short- and long-term disability insurance
• Flexible spending accounts
• Retirement plans
• Tuition assistance
• Voluntary benefits, including access to group insurance rates and discounts
• Tuition discounts at Thomas Jefferson University after one year of full-time service or two years of part-time service
• Medical insurance access for all colleagues, including those working less than part-time

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level