Medical Social Worker (BSW) jobs in Reading Center, NY

Job Description

Position Summary: To assist in meeting the psycho‐social needs of patients in the Acute, Swing and Emergency Department with optimization of Health Services provided to all TCH patients. Interface with RPH, area hospitals and physicians to promote TCH services. To provide intervention with geriatrics, families, adults, children and infants and maintain concordant competencies. Essential Functions: Provides direct Social Work services and counseling to patients and their families. The staff member must be able to demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to infants, children, adolescents, and geriatric patients. The individual must demonstrate knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span reflective of the patient’s status and interpret the appropriate information needed to identify each patient’s requirements as to his / her age specific needs. Intervenes with counseling and / or supportive services as appropriate. Attends weekly Interdisciplinary meeting to identify patients / families in need of intervention and to collaborate on discharge planning status of patients previously referred. Coordinates patient / family psycho‐social needs with care coordination, nursing staff and medical staff. Identifies psycho‐social, environmental and financial problems. Develops patient care plan. Identifies patient / family needs. Documents in patient medical record all relevant interactions. Collaborates when appropriate referral procedures related to a patient’s particular treatment plan; skilled nursing home placement, rehab placement, personal care home transfers, home health care and other discharge planning needs. Responds to physician identified situations that call for preventive measures for patients who may require services of Child Welfare, Environmental Protection, etc. Provides coverage when available to provide intervention for emergency and other psycho‐social crisis situations throughout the hospital. Provides appropriate coverage for Care Coordination in the absence of the Acute Care Coordinator. Interface with RPH, area hospitals and physicians to promote TCH services. Maintains working knowledge of Departmental, Hospital and GHS wide policies which relate to or affect the delivery of discharge planning and psycho‐social support services. Recognizes and identifies actual or potential situations which place us at risk for corporate compliance; communicates appropriately to department manager and/or follows defined policy for addressing the situation. In conjunction with the Hospital President, administer and prepare social work budgets. Ability to directly respond to all physician consultation, Utilization Review referrals, etc. Consultations should be initially responded to within a 24‐hour work day period. Promote appropriate referrals. Assesses emotional problems to assist patient and / or family with anxiety and stress precipitated by illness / hospitalization. Assesses, identifies and facilitates patient and family’s ability to cope with diagnosis, body image changes, fears, death, etc. Assists patient and family in the development / maintenance of positive coping skills throughout the patients hospitalization. Complete in a timely fashion social assessment and admission policy review on sub‐acute residents. Assesses, identifies and facilitates patient’s post hospital discharge needs for institutional care, home care, outpatient services or specialized care. Assists with arrangements and ability to formulate and complete all necessary referral procedures related to a patient’s particular treatment plan: skilled nursing home placement, physical rehab placement, personal care home transfer, ambulance transfer, referral to area nursing services for home care, home aide services; set‐up of home oxygen needs via referral to area home medical equipment suppliers, etc. Ability to communicate with referring physician/agency regarding patient progress. Evaluates patient / family level of understanding regarding illness and post hospital need. Other Duties: Maintains monthly statistical data on all aspects of work performed. Hold ex‐officio membership on the Utilization Review and Interdisciplinary Team committees. Maintain confidentiality on all patients, family and fellow employee information. Information available to the department is extremely confidential and personal. Must adhere to hospital policies on confidentiality. Performs other duties as assigned.

About Us

Joining the Guthrie team allows you to become a part of a tradition of excellence in health care. In all areas and at all levels of Guthrie, you’ll find staff members who have committed themselves to serving the community.

The Guthrie Clinic is an Equal Opportunity Employer that welcomes and encourages diversity in the workplace.

The Guthrie Clinic is a non-profit, integrated, practicing physician-led organization in the Twin Tiers of New York and Pennsylvania. Our multi-specialty group practice of more than 500 physicians and 302 advanced practice providers offers 47 specialties through a regional office network providing primary and specialty care in 22 communities. Guthrie Medical Education Programs include General Surgery, Internal Medicine, Emergency Medicine, Family Medicine, Anesthesiology and Orthopedic Surgery Residency, as well as Cardiovascular, Gastroenterology and Pulmonary Critical Care Fellowship programs. Guthrie is also a clinical campus for the Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine.