Social Worker, UofL Hospital

UofL Health•Louisville, KY

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Under the direction of the Manager and/or Director of Care Coordination, the Social Worker performs activities that support the Care Coordination Department and promotes optimal health care outcomes in accordance with hospital policies, procedures, applicable laws and contracts, and the organization’s philosophy, mission, vision, and values. The role assumes responsibility and accountability for appropriate utilization of facilities and services and serves as a resource to physicians, nurses, and ancillary staff. In an acute care setting, the Social Worker provides psychosocial assessment, discharge planning, information and referral services, counseling, and coordination of services to meet the health-related needs of patients of all ages. The Social Worker must adjust work hours according to departmental and organizational needs, as determined by the director or manager.

Requirements

Must be able to adjust work hours according to departmental and organizational needs as determined by the director or manager.
Must comply with HIPAA privacy and security requirements and maintain confidentiality.

Responsibilities

Conduct timely patient needs assessments and develop, reassess, and revise discharge and care management plans to support the best possible outcomes.
Document comprehensive social assessments, reassessments, and discharge or care management plans in the electronic medical record according to policies and procedures.
Coordinate discharge and care management plans by evaluating options and communicating with patients, families, treatment teams, insurers, and providers; promote patient engagement and commitment to care plans and self-care.
Implement discharge and care management plans in compliance with legal and ethical standards, hospital and departmental policies, reimbursement criteria, provider and resource options, and interpretation of medical data.
Communicate accurate and complete patient information in a timely manner to patients, families, care teams, and prospective providers, and foster collaboration among care providers.
Provide crisis intervention, patient advocacy, and psychosocial support to patients and families, including during serious illness, hospitalization, and end-of-life situations.
Advocate for patients in guardianship, abuse, or resource matters; refer cases to the ethics committee when appropriate and protect patient and family dignity, confidentiality, and needs.
Identify risk issues and implement appropriate procedures, including those related to APS, CPS, MIW, and duty to warn.
Conduct family conferences, particularly for complex family situations or patients with complex or special needs, and help resolve or mediate conflicts within family and social systems.
Assess patients for cognitive decline, depression, and other social issues before discharge; provide brief interventions and substance-abuse treatment referrals when appropriate, and coordinate with psychiatric services regarding inpatient hospitalization for psychiatric emergencies.
Refer patients and families to community agencies for education, mental health, abuse-related, financial-assistance, and other social or environmental needs; use social work methods to support long-term well-being and prevent complications and readmissions.
Contribute to organizational metrics and goals that support the organization’s financial security.
Acknowledge, address, and complete Social Worker consults for assigned units in the electronic medical record.
Participate in interdisciplinary patient care team meetings, provide leadership as needed, and share psychosocial assessment information to help overcome barriers to treatment.
Remain accessible as a resource to physicians, advanced providers, residents, medical students, nursing staff, other hospital departments, providers, and community agency representatives.
Participate in assigned committees and projects, applying social work expertise to increase organizational awareness of psychosocial circumstances and social environments affecting health.
Evaluate departmental products, procedures, and services to assess effectiveness and identify improvements.
Educate coworkers, hospital and medical staff, and the community about departmental functions, social services concepts, services, and community resources.
Pursue continuing education through in-service programs, classes, workshops, or conferences.
Supervise graduate social work students when assigned.
Comply with company policies, procedures, standards of conduct, and HIPAA privacy and security requirements.
Perform other duties as assigned.