Inpatient Medical Social Worker

Aurora Health Care; Cudahy (WI); On-site; USD 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Aurora Health Care is seeking a skilled social worker to provide psychosocial assessments, discharge planning, and care coordination across the hospital stay. You will collaborate with the care team, advocate for patients and families, coordinate post-acute placements, and ensure compliance with CMS and regulatory requirements while maintaining up-to-date knowledge of community resources.

This role requires engagement with multidisciplinary teams, documentation excellence, and sensitivity to

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in social work from a CSWE accredited school.
• Years of Experience: Typically requires 2 years of social work experience in healthcare.
• IL‑LSW Eligible, LCSW preferred issued by the State of Illinois
• WI‑Social Work Certification issued by the State of Wisconsin
• CLT‑ Masters in Social Work required, LCSW preferred. applicable state Certification is preferred.
• GA‑ applicable state Certification is preferred. Adherence to National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics.

Responsibilities

• Provide social work services including psychosocial assessment, screening, determination of needs evaluation, appropriate interventions and follow up, and discharge planning.
• Collaborate with the multi-disciplinary health care team to develop safe and timely coordination of care including post-acute placement and community resources.
• Complete UM activities including providing clinical updates to payers and external review organizations, collecting data, coordinating denial activity, and managing delays.
• Communicate effectively with the healthcare team and participate in care coordination to establish a safe plan of care.
• Educate patients and families about resources, advance directives, and post-discharge options; ensure compliance with regulations and accreditation standards.
• Document activity according to protocols, support LOS optimization, and ensure continuity of care across the continuum.

Skills

Psychosocial assessment & planning

Discharge planning

Care coordination

Regulatory compliance & CMS knowledge

Team communication & collaboration

Education

Master's degree in Social Work (CSWE-accredited)

IL-LSW eligibility / LCSW preferred

Wisconsin Social Work Certification

2 years healthcare social work experience

Job description

• Conducts complete assessments, establishes appropriate plans, and initiates interventions within desired timeframes. Collaborates and negotiates effectively with patient, family, and team while striving to achieve patient and organizational goals with regard to patient’s care needs, choice and satisfaction when discharge planning/transitioning care. Utilizes patient/family strengths in the problem-solving process, involving the patient/family and team in the decision-making process beginning on admission and continuing throughout patient’s hospital stay.
• Provides social work services to patients, families, and individuals including psychosocial assessment, screening, determination of needs evaluation, appropriate interventions and follow up, and discharge planning. Implements interventions substantiated by assessment as appropriate to the needs of the patient/client system and consistent with available resources and payer network.
• Participates as part of the multi-disciplinary health care team to develop safe and timely coordination of care including but not limited to post-acute placement, palliative/hospice service lines, medical equipment, home healthcare, outpatient follow up, mental health resources, and other community resources. Advocates for patient involvement in the plan of care. Initiates and coordinates interventions with the activities of other members of the health care team. Remains knowledgeable in issues of healthcare regulations, reimbursement issues, impact on length of stay and community resources.
• Completes UM activities as required based on local structure to include providing clinical updates to payers and/or external review organizations, collecting data, coordinating denial activity, supporting UM activity, and managing avoidable delays. Delivers CMS regulatory notices within CMS established timeframes, as appropriate based on-site guidelines.
• Communicates effectively with the healthcare team. Works in partnership with RN Care Manager and unlicensed support personnel to effectively establish and implement a safe plan of care. Serves as an active member of the MDR and works closely with medical staff, hospital departments and ancillary services in identification and resolution of barriers to discharge, expediting care delivery to avoid delays in timely service provision, and implementing and reporting care coordination, discharge planning and utilization management (UM) activities.
• Maintains up-to-date knowledge of community resources, legislation, and regulations impacting health care delivery and educating patients and families on these issues as appropriate. Connects patients to appropriate agencies on issues of suspected abuse and neglect, domestic violence, guardianship, and other social matters.
• Provides resources to patients and families to ensure a timely discharge and to provide an appropriate link with post-acute care providers and services.
• Provides support and connection to additional services such as bereavement and loss, ethical issues, advanced directives, and end of life issues.
• Collaborates with community agencies and institutions to plan continued care and to coordinate interventions. Provides resources and education to patients and families regarding appropriate resources and access to community social services.
• Communicates effectively with patients, family, other members of the health care team and community agencies and facilitates resolution of issues which could impact on continuity of care (e.g., prior-approvals, application requirements, transfer paperwork). Documents activity according to department and program protocols or standards. Manages the progression of patients stay with the goal of optimizing the LOS and ensuring appropriateness of assigned Level of Care.
• Manages the patient’s care across the continuum to decrease unnecessary readmissions. Manages and coordinates patient care within an ACO environment to help facilitate patient outcomes through in network care coordination. Accountable for site specific designated goal achievement. Participates in the orientation of new staff and/or education of social work students.
• Provides education to patients/families regarding Advance Directives for health care decision-making. Assists with execution of these documents as appropriate. Participates in legal proceedings as necessary to secure legal decision-makers.
• Maintains professional standards and responsibilities for his/her own professional practice according to accreditation, hospital, system, state and NASW Standards and Code of Ethics.
• Completes all required continuing education to maintain licensure and increase knowledge within area of practice specialty.
• Must be able to demonstrate knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients served. Must demonstrate knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span and possess the ability to assess data reflective of the patient's status and interpret the appropriate information needed to identify each patient's requirements relative to his/her age-specific needs, and to provide the care needed as described in the department's policies and procedures. Age-specific information is developed further in the departmental job standards.

Major Responsibilities

• Conducts complete assessments, establishes appropriate plans, and initiates interventions within desired timeframes. Collaborates and negotiates effectively with patient, family, and team while striving to achieve patient and organizational goals with regard to patient’s care needs, choice and satisfaction when discharge planning/transitioning care. Utilizes patient/family strengths in the problem-solving process, involving the patient/family and team in the decision-making process beginning on admission and continuing throughout patient’s hospital stay.
• Provides social work services to patients, families, and individuals including psychosocial assessment, screening, determination of needs evaluation, appropriate interventions and follow up, and discharge planning. Implements interventions substantiated by assessment as appropriate to the needs of the patient/client system and consistent with available resources and payer network.
• Participates as part of the multi-disciplinary health care team to develop safe and timely coordination of care including but not limited to post-acute placement, palliative/hospice service lines, medical equipment, home healthcare, outpatient follow up, mental health resources, and other community resources. Advocates for patient involvement in the plan of care. Initiates and coordinates interventions with the activities of other members of the health care team. Remains knowledgeable in issues of healthcare regulations, reimbursement issues, impact on length of stay and community resources.
• Completes UM activities as required based on local structure to include providing clinical updates to payers and/or external review organizations, collecting data, coordinating denial activity, supporting UM activity, and managing avoidable delays. Delivers CMS regulatory notices within CMS established timeframes, as appropriate based on-site guidelines.
• Communicates effectively with the healthcare team. Works in partnership with RN Care Manager and unlicensed support personnel to effectively establish and implement a safe plan of care. Serves as an active member of the MDR and works closely with medical staff, hospital departments and ancillary services in identification and resolution of barriers to discharge, expediting care delivery to avoid delays in timely service provision, and implementing and reporting care coordination, discharge planning and utilization management (UM) activities.
• Maintains up-to-date knowledge of community resources, legislation, and regulations impacting health care delivery and educating patients and families on these issues as appropriate. Connects patients to appropriate agencies on issues of suspected abuse and neglect, domestic violence, guardianship, and other social matters.
• Provides resources to patients and families to ensure a timely discharge and to provide an appropriate link with post-acute care providers and services.
• Provides support and connection to additional services such as bereavement and loss, ethical issues, advanced directives, and end of life issues.
• Collaborates with community agencies and institutions to plan continued care and to coordinate interventions. Provides resources and education to patients and families regarding appropriate resources and access to community social services.
• Communicates effectively with patients, family, other members of the health care team and community agencies and facilitates resolution of issues which could impact on continuity of care (e.g., prior-approvals, application requirements, transfer paperwork). Documents activity according to department and program protocols or standards. Manages the progression of patients stay with the goal of optimizing the LOS and ensuring appropriateness of assigned Level of Care.
• Manages the patient’s care across the continuum to decrease unnecessary readmissions. Manages and coordinates patient care within an ACO environment to help facilitate patient outcomes through in network care coordination. Accountable for site specific designated goal achievement. Participates in the orientation of new staff and/or education of social work students.
• Provides education to patients/families regarding Advance Directives for health care decision-making. Assists with execution of these documents as appropriate. Participates in legal proceedings as necessary to secure legal decision-makers.
• Maintains professional standards and responsibilities for his/her own professional practice according to accreditation, hospital, system, state and NASW Standards and Code of Ethics.
• Completes all required continuing education to maintain licensure and increase knowledge within area of practice specialty.
• Must be able to demonstrate knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients served. Must demonstrate knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span and possess the ability to assess data reflective of the patient's status and interpret the appropriate information needed to identify each patient's requirements relative to his/her age-specific needs, and to provide the care needed as described in the department's policies and procedures. Age-specific information is developed further in the departmental job standards.

License/Registration/Certification

MINIMUM EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

• IL‑LSW Eligible, LCSW preferred issued by the State of Illinois
• WI‑Social Work Certification issued by the State of Wisconsin
• CLT‑ Masters in Social Work required, LCSW preferred. applicable state Certification is preferred. Adherence to National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics.
• GA‑ applicable state Certification is preferred. Adherence to National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics
• Level of Education: Master’s degree in social work from a Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accredited school.
• Years of Experience: Typically requires 2 years of social work experience in healthcare

Minimum Knowledge, Skills And Abilities (ksa)

• Demonstrated knowledge of social work principals and methods and the ability to apply these in a health care setting.
• Demonstrates time management, professional accountability, and documentation skills.
• Demonstrates communication skills and the ability to collaborate within a multi-disciplinary team.
• Demonstrates and acts in accordance with safety principals of an accountable care organization.

Physical Requirements And Working Conditions

• This position requires travel, therefore, will be exposed to weather and road conditions.
• Operates all equipment necessary to perform the job.
• Exposed to a normal office environment.
• Exposed to patient care environment. May be exposed to hazardous materials and life-threatening diseases, therefore team members must abide by personal protective equipment as ordered.
• Weekend, holiday, and evening coverage per site requirement.
• Position requires sitting, standing, speaking, reading/writing, and walking throughout the workday.
• Fast paced work environment with established time constraints per site.

This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of the incumbent. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the incumbent. Incumbent may be required to perform other related duties.