Social Worker

Kindred Healthcare•Livingston, TN

About The Position

Join Livingston Regional Hospital, a 114-bed, community hospital certified for sepsis care by the Joint Commission and accredited for chest pain by the American College of Cardiology. As part of the ScionHealth network, Livingston Regional proudly delivers quality care covering all aspects of healthcare, from 24-hour emergency services to inpatient and outpatient rehabilitative, a Level I neonatal nursery, a 16-bed gero-psych unit, and many other specialty services. Livingston serves a five-county area in central Tennessee and southern Kentucky. Grow your career where your work touches your neighbors. Job Summary Coordinates, facilitates, and executes Social Work functions with the patient population through effective collaboration and communication with the Interdisciplinary Care Transitions (ICT) team members. Follows patients throughout the care continuum, identifying and addressing psychosocial needs. Provides ongoing support and expertise through specialized application of assessment, individual treatment plans, continuous evaluation of treatment planning, case management, mediation, referral, consultation, education, and advocacy. Enhances the quality of patient management and satisfaction to promote continuity of care through the integration of the functions of case management, discharge planning, and the application of social work practices. Acts as a patient advocate, investigates and reports adverse occurrences, performs staff education related to discharge planning and psychosocial aspects of healthcare delivery. Advocates for the understanding of significant physical, biological, psychological, emotional, and environmental factors underlying patient's health issues.

Requirements

Knowledge of government and non-government payor practices, regulations, standards and reimbursement as it relates to discharge planning
Knowledge of Medicare benefits and insurance processes and contracts
Knowledge of accreditation standards and compliance requirements
Must read, write and speak fluent English
Ability to demonstrate critical thinking, appropriate prioritization and time management skills
Basic computer skills with working knowledge of Microsoft Office, word-processing and spreadsheet software
Excellent interpersonal, verbal and written skills in order to communicate effectively and to obtain cooperation/collaboration from hospital leadership, as well as physicians, payors and other external customers
Demonstrates good interpersonal skills when working or interacting with patients, their families and other staff members
Must have regular attendance
Graduate of an accredited program
Social Work License as required by state
Three years of experience in healthcare setting

Nice To Haves

Master of Social Work preferred
Certification in Case Management preferred
Prefer experience in case management or discharge planning

Responsibilities

Coordinates psychosocial activities with the Interdisciplinary Team and Physicians to provide comprehensive discharge planning for each patient.
Utilizes critical thinking to develop and execute effective discharge planning
Remains current from a knowledge base perspective regarding community resources, case management, psychosocial and legal issues that affect patients and providers of care
Conducts comprehensive, ongoing biopsychosocial assessments of patients and family to provide timely and safe discharge planning
Serves as a patient advocate
Enhances a collaborative relationship to maximize the patient’s and family’s ability to make informed decisions
Participates in interdisciplinary patient care rounds and/or conferences
Provides patient and family education on identified post hospital needs
Collaborates with clinical staff in the development and execution of the plan of care, and achievement of goals
Provides education to patients/families and the healthcare team as needed regarding cultural/religious beliefs, ethics, abuse, neglect and financial exploitation, age specific information, patient rights and responsibilities, and advance directives
Makes referrals to specific community resources that are appropriate in meeting the needs of the patient and/or family
Demonstrates knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span and the skills necessary to provide age-appropriate psychosocial support to the patient population served
Coordinates the provision of social services to patients, families, and significant others to enable them to deal with the impact of illness on individual family functioning and to achieve maximum benefits from health care services
Serves on Division and Hospital committees when requested
Arranges for discharge and post-hospital care of patients through institutions and agencies within the community
Performs other related duties as assigned