Job Abstract

If you are interested apply online and send your resume to MarisMartinez@MLKCH.org

POSITION SUMMARY
 The Medical Social Worker is a skilled and experienced professional License Clinical Social Worker or Master prepared Social Worker, responsible for excellence in the clinical practice of social work.  Reporting to the Manager of Social Services  and the  Director of Care Management, the Medical Social Worker is responsible for providing a range of services including: bio-psychosocial assessment, leading to the development of an individualized plan of care, and coordination of appropriate interventions for patients and/or families based on need.  The role reflects appropriate knowledge of the Social Work scope of practice, current state requirements, CMS Conditions of Participation, EMTALA, The Patient Bill of Rights, AB1203 and other Federal or State regulatory agency requirements specific to Utilization Review and Discharge Planning. The Medical Social Worker partners with the medical staff, and utilizes an evidence based approach to manage the care of the patient. These activities include seeing the patient in the ambulatory and/or ED setting, in order to ensure  high quality  care, and efficient utilization of available healthcare resources,  and Health Plan reimbursement categories. This position requires the full understanding and active participation in fulfilling the Mission of Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Hospital. It is expected that the employee will demonstrate behavior consistent with the Core Values. The employee shall support Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Hospital’s strategic plan and the goals and direction of the quality and performance improvement process activities. The Watson Model of Care is utilized throughout the delivery system of care services.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Is responsible for assessing, planning, managing, and providing social services in an inpatient and/or ED setting  to patients and/or their families
• Is part of the interdisciplinary team, responsible for rounding on patients in order to facilitate timely care; assure quality of care throughout the hospital stay; and minimize adverse outcomes.
• Provides supportive counseling and crisis intervention to patients and/or families with challenging psychosocial issues.
• Is responsible for the timely reporting of suspected abuse and or/neglect to child and/or adult protective services.
• Prioritizes cases and responds to priority system appropriately.
• Communicates with Admitting or PFS regarding the needs of the patient, payer and provider are supported within the limitations of the existing individual benefit structure.
• Communicates relevant elements of the health plan benefits.
• Establishes a working diagnosis (DRG) on every patient at the time of admission to estimate the target length of stay or identify the date of discharge for planning and care coordination purposes.
• Communicates target LOS/estimated discharge readiness to physician, patient, family, care team and payor.
• Documents all team, physician and patient/family communication and concerns pertaining to coordination of care and services.
• Screens every patient to identify need for further assessment of medical necessity or discharge planning (standard description of which patients are seen).
• Adheres to departmental and hospital wide  policies and procedures.
• Participates in the Quality and Performance Improvement Plan for the hospital, as it relates to the provision of social work services. .
• Considers the patient population served, age-specific criteria and the Watson Model of Care in all patient/family care and interaction.
• Utilizes Milliman Care Guideline’s best practices to determine patient disposition. Collaborates with on-site Hospitalists, Intensivists, Laborists and Emergency Department physicians in this process.
• Other duties as assigned.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS

A.   Education

• Master’s degree in Social Work
• LCSW preferred

B.  Qualifications/Experience

• Hospital inpatient social work experience required. Care management experience preferred.
• Knowledge and understanding of  evidence based clinical social work interventions. Knowledge of clinical operations and procedures.
• Able to navigate and connect successfully with outside provider networks (Health Plans, IPA’s, and FQHC’s).
• License Clinical Social Worker preferred.
• Certification in Case Management preferred.

C.   Special Skills/Knowledge

• Bilingual language skills preferred (Spanish)
• Basic computer skills
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS)
• Lanterman-Petris-Short (LPS) Certificate preferred.
• Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) Blue Card within 90 Days of hire or requirement notification.