Social Service Assistant

Advocate Health; Milwaukee (WI); On-site; USD 21,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

Advocate Health in Milwaukee seeks a Social Services Assistant to coordinate patient transfers and discharge planning. You will work with patients, families and a multidisciplinary team to arrange transfers, assist with Transit Plus applications, and provide information on Advance Directives.

The role requires strong communication, organizational skills, and the ability to work in a fast-paced setting while safeguarding patient confidentiality.

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. Must be able to communicate with all levels of employees.

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.
• Coordinates transportation arrangements for patients with Social Workers, families, and service providers.
• Assists patients with Transit Plus applications and provides information on Advance Directives.
• Demonstrates sound judgment in patient transfer tasks and engages Social Workers when needed.
• Assists Social Workers with case-related and department services as directed.
• Obtains physician signatures or coordinates courier services to facilitate transfers.
• Maintains patient confidentiality per policies.
• Documents all patient-related activities in the medical record.
• Tracks workload in MedSWis and supports department clerical needs.

Education

Associate's Degree in Human Services

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.