Social Service Assistant

Aurora Health Care; Milwaukee (WI); On-site; USD 36,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

Aurora Health Care in Milwaukee is seeking a Social Services Assistant to support discharge planning and coordination of patient transfers. You will work with patients, families and the multidisciplinary team to arrange nursing home returns, facility transfers, and transportation, ensuring documentation aligns with policy.

This role emphasizes confidentiality, accurate medical record entry, and timely escalation to Social Workers when issues exceed scope.

Qualifications

• General knowledge base of community resources.
• Basic computer skills.
• Familiarity with medical terminology.
• Excellent human relations skills.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to function in a fast-paced, deadline-oriented work environment.
• Verbal and written effective communication skills necessary.

Responsibilities

• Initiates and completes routine nursing home returns and transfers, coordinating paperwork.
• Coordinates transportation arrangements with patients, families and teams.
• Assists with Transit Plus applications and Wisconsin Advance Directive information.
• Demonstrates sound judgment and involves Social Workers when needed during transfers.
• Supports Social Workers with other case-related and department services as directed.
• Obtains physician signatures or coordinates courier services for transfers.
• Maintains patient confidentiality and documents activities in the medical record.
• Tracks caseload in MedSWis and assists with department clerical needs.

Skills

Community resources

Computer skills

Medical terminology

Interpersonal skills

Organizational skills

Thriving under pressure

Communication skills

Education

Associate's Degree in Human Services or related field

Job description

Major Responsibilities

• Initiates and completes routine nursing home returns, CBRF returns and other facility-to-facility discharges/transfers for patients as assigned, integrating patient/family needs, facility requirements and communication with the multi-disciplinary team. This includes coordination of necessary transfer paperwork as required by hospital policy/procedure.
• Initiates and completes transportation arrangements for patients as assigned by Social Workers making contacts with patient, family, multi-disciplinary team, transport service and destination facility where appropriate.
• Assists patients with applications for the Transit Plus program making appropriate contacts with patients and families. Provides patients and families with information related to Wisconsin Advance Directive documents.
• Demonstrates appropriate judgments in all patient-related tasks. Does routine problem solving regarding elements of the patient transfer process. The social services assistant involves Social Workers in a timely manner in situations/problem solving beyond the scope of the social services assistant position.
• Assists Social Workers as directed to provide other case related and department services.
• Either personally obtains physician signatures to facilitate a transfer to another institution or obtains courier services for signature as appropriate to the situation.
• Maintains patient confidentiality by consistent compliance with the organization's confidentiality and release of patient information policies and procedures.
• Documents all patient-related activities in the medical record according to prescribed guidelines of the department and the Medical Center.
• Tracks case load through the MedSWis system as directed in department policies and procedures. Assists with department clerical support needs as directed.

Licensure, Registration, And/or Certification Required

• None Required.

Education Required

• Associate's Degree in Human Services or related field.

Experience Required

• No experience required.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required

• General knowledge base of community resources.
• Basic computer skills.
• Familiarity with medical terminology.
• Excellent human relations skills.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to function in a fast-paced, deadline-oriented work environment.
• Verbal and written effective communication skills necessary. Must be able to communicate with all levels of employees.

Physical Requirements And Working Conditions

• May be required to stand and walk throughout the workday.
• Exposed to normal office environment.
• Speech, hearing, vision sensory skills required for communication purposes.
• Operates all equipment necessary to perform the job.

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.