Social Worker (LCSW) - Outpatient Ophthalmology, Casual, Days (16 hours/week)

Psychosocial Assessment & Intervention

• Meets directly with patient/family to perform a comprehensive assessment including social, emotional, cultural, mental status, environmental and financial circumstances in conjunction with interdisciplinary assessment of the patient.
• Recommends a plan of intervention based on mutually established goals.
• Provides psychosocial interventions including reactions to illness and disability, facilitation of informed decision making and advanced directives, adjustment to the hospital setting, coping with post-hospital care needs and linkage to community resources.
• Addresses gynecological/obstetrical-related issues including teen pregnancy, parenting, adoption planning, infant developmental problems, drug exposed neonate, fetal death, unplanned pregnancy, and pregnancy termination.
• Addresses issues related to insurance coverage and payment, psychiatric symptoms and chemical dependency, conflict resolution, and family/personal relationships impacting the plan of care and discharge plans.
• Performs assessments of the physical environment and adequacy of support systems for outpatients to prevent crisis and/or hospitalization.
• Provides crisis intervention and/or protective services for the elderly without support systems, victims of suspected abuse/neglect, sexual/physical assault, child abuse or neglect, domestic violence, guardianship cases, and the homeless.

Discharge Planning, Placement Coordination & Resource Utilization

• Actively participates in the stages of discharge planning and ensures the plan of care is coordinated, facilitated and effectively communicated to physicians, healthcare team, patient and family.
• Provides initial screening for all new patients to assure medical necessity, source of funding, and likelihood of needing social work and/or discharge planning services.
• Serves as the point person for the plan of care as it applies to discharge planning needs through facilitation of direct and continuous communication and collaborative decision making, including participation in multidisciplinary rounds and case conferences.
• Coordinates action plans when barriers are present to facilitate resolution.
• Coordinates discharge planning to ensure timely discharge through early identification, assessment and intervention for post-hospital care needs.
• Meets directly with patient and family to assess needs, preferences and develop appropriate plan involving home health care services in collaboration with the physician.
• Ensures/maintains plan consensus from patient/family, physician and payer.
• Proactively identifies and resolves delays and obstacles to discharge.
• Utilizes advanced conflict resolution skills as necessary to ensure timely resolution of issues and system problems.
• Seeks consultation from and makes referrals to appropriate disciplines/departments as required to expedite discharges.
• Demonstrates knowledge of community resources and an ability to connect patients and families with these resources.
• Acts as an advocate on behalf of the patient who requires assistance to gain access to needed information, resources, or services.
• Facilitates review of high risk cases by Office of General Counsel, Risk Management and informs appropriate members of the healthcare team as to interventions needed.
• Provides patient and family education that promotes wellness and increases knowledge of the health care system.
• Completes timely documentation of activities in the medical record and hospital wide information systems.
• Demonstrates knowledge of the utilization management process which includes level of care assignment, communication with payors and benefit authorization.

Clinical Performance Improvement

• Assists in the collection and reporting of financial indicators including LOS, avoidable days, resource utilization, discharge barriers, cost per case, readmission rates, denial and appeals.
• Uses data to drive decisions and plan/implement performance improvement strategies related to case management for assigned patients/units, including financial, clinical, quality and patient satisfaction data.

Other

• Provides graduate level Social Work field supervision for students requiring a field placement.
• Assumes responsibility for professional development and social work CEU requirements by participating in workshops, conferences, and/or in-services.
• Complies with Northwestern Memorial Hospital policies on patient confidentiality including HIPAA requirements and Personal Rules of Conduct.