Social Worker I - Continuum of Care - Full-Time

Mercy Cedar Rapids•Baltimore, MD

About The Position

This position supports Mercy's philosophy of patient centered care by providing our patients and their families support and resources to manage the many psychosocial aspects of illness. A social worker works with patients and their identified support system to access the needed resources to cope with illness and life changes triggered by illness. This may include referral to needed community resources, assistance in applying for financial assistance programs or the provision of supportive counseling in coping with illness and the life changes resulting from illness.

Requirements

Strong communication skills: oral, written, telephone, email, and face to face; establishes rapport easily with patients and their families.
Current working knowledge of discharge planning, utilization management, case management, performance improvement, disease or population management and managed care reimbursement.
Interacts in a tactful, diplomatic, and humanistic manner with patients, families, visitors, and co-workers to provide a safe, efficient and therapeutically effective caring environment which ensures the self-respect, personal dignity, rights and physical safety of each patient and facility guest.
Demonstrated leadership skills.
Self-starter; able to initiate and direct own activities in an organized manner and make decisions within the framework of the responsibilities and authority of the job.
Strong analytical, data management and PC skills.
Demonstrated understanding of motivational interviewing and change management.
Strong organizational and time management skills, as evidenced by capacity to prioritize multiple tasks and role components.
Promotes individual professional growth and development by meeting requirements for mandatory/continuing education and skills competency; supports department-based goals which contribute to the success of the organization; serves as preceptor, mentor and resource to less experienced staff.
Assists inpatient Care Coordination team by following a subset of patients with discharge planning.
Minimum 5 year's education/experience working with the adult and geriatric population required.
BSN or BSW required.
If an RN, current Registered Nurse licensure required, if a Social Worker, licensure in the State of Iowa preferred.
Iowa Dependent Adult Abuse Mandatory Reporter training required. Employee must submit certification of completed training to Human Resources prior to start or transfer date.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree preferred.
Social Worker preferred.
Education/experience in working with physical disabilities preferred.
Certification in Case Management preferred (CRRN, RN-BC, ACM, CCMC, etc.)

Responsibilities

Provides transitional care support for patients with complex medical and psychological conditions.
Communicates with clinical care team regarding the plan of care and progress towards goals.
Provides clinical information to relevant team members regarding patient needs and/or newly identified issues.
Completes case management assessment of patients/support systems to plan, coordinate and evaluate patient care and facilitate timely transition along the care continuum.
Performs social services duties including assessment, referral, counseling, and consumer advocacy.
Collaborates with external case managers.
Initiates and facilitates referrals for home health care, hospice, medical equipment and supplies, etc.
Collaborates with the continuum of care team to effectively steward resources and services.
Ensures institutional compliance with professional, regulatory and government standards of care.
Assists inpatient Care Coordination team by following a subset of patients with discharge planning challenges requiring more family follow-through, such as retrieving needed documents for Medicaid, etc.
Performs other duties as assigned.
Follows Mercy's safety guidelines, carries out job-specific safety duties and responsibilities, and promptly reports any unsafe conditions, situations, incidents and injuries.