Job Summary

Using interviewing, organizational and networking skills, gathers clinically relevant information and provides psychosocial assessment to assist the healthcare team in developing a treatment plan and determining services needed by patients/families. Actively collaborates with healthcare team to meet patient care outcome management and system improvement goals. Uses planning, prioritizing and organizational skills to achieve utilization and quality goals.

LexPlan is a staffing schedule designated for patient care staff that work weekends only. Work 24 hours and get paid for 36, eligible for Full-time benefits, plus applicable clinical differentials.

Minimum Qualifications

Minimum Education: Bachelor's Degree in Social Work from an accredited program
Minimum Years of Experience: None.
Substitutable Education & Experience: None.
Required Certifications/Licensure: Licensure as a Social Worker in the state of South Carolina
Required Training: None.

Essential Functions

• The Medical Social Worker works in a cooperative manner, which fosters favorable relationships between employees and patients, patient’s families, visitors, fellow employees, the medical staff and outside facilities. Accepts chain of command, supervision and constructive criticism.
• Exhibits commitment and pride through person example.
• Contributes to teamwork and creates harmonious, effective and positive working relationships with others.
• Respects, understands and responds with sensitivity to employees and guests by treating others as one would wish to be treated.
• Resolves conflicts and problem solves.
• Exhibits telephone courtesy.
• Maintains confidentiality.
• Professionalism/Competence: Demonstrates competence in providing duties within role.
• Demonstrates competence to provide developmentally appropriate assessments and interventions for the infant, child, adolescent, adult and geriatric patient populations.
• Identifies the need for professional growth and seeks appropriate professional development opportunities attaining a minimum of 20 hours of continuing education annually in topics related to professional role.
• Serves as a role model for other healthcare team members.
• Respects patient confidentiality and uses discretion in all interactions regarding patient’s needs.
• Demonstrates receptiveness to change and flexibility in meeting department needs.
• Abides by the Social Work Code of Ethics.
• Utilizes assessment data to facilitate appropriate and timely discharge plan/post acute services.
• Completes psychosocial/discharge assessments (appropriate to patient type) and reason for referral to assist the healthcare team in development of a care plan. Obtains basic information related to the diagnosis/treatment experiences, age, developmental stage, financial status, living environment, transportation, support systems, and family/significant others.
• Documents assessment information in the patient’s medical record (EMR).
• Coordinates appropriate, efficient and timely discharge plan/post acute services.
• Accesses internal/external resources on the patient’s behalf.
• Facilitates referrals, confirms resources, and implements plan within LOS.
• Honors appropriate patient preferences and provides patient/family with lists of providers of services needed.
• Consults with case management team members and other healthcare team members routinely.
• Keeps healthcare team members informed of plan of care progress through timely, clear and  correct documentation in the patient’s medical record (EMR).
• Participates in case management team meetings and program development.
• Utilizes appropriate brief counseling techniques.
• Conveys and receives information efficiently to and from patients, families, other members of the health care team and outside facilities and agencies.
• Provides education/consultation to the patient/family and healthcare team.
• Determines comprehension and need for repetition and revision of methods of teaching.
• Consistently communicates within case management triad regarding issues.
• Uses appropriate channels for reporting progress and/or concerns.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Consults with attending physician to coordinate discharge plans for the patient.
• Identifies opportunities for improvement and coordinates/participates in the development and implementation of action plans to make improvements.
• Contributes to patient outcome measurement.
• Participates in Discharge Planning Team meetings and in Discharge Planning Department program development.
• Participates on teams designed to improve systems based on analysis of data and evaluates   outcomes.
• Participates in unit discharge planning activities and in interdisciplinary patient care conferences.
• Performs all other duties as assigned by authorized personnel or as required in an emergency (e.g., fire or disaster).