Social Worker, Navigation

Astera Cancer Care; Baton Rouge (LA); On-site; USD 52,000 - 76,000; Full time

Job summary

Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center in Louisiana seeks an Oncology Social Work Navigator to advocate for patients and coordinate care across the cancer service line. You will guide patients and families through complex systems, ensuring timely access to services and survivorship planning.

The role emphasizes education on guidelines and treatment options, reducing barriers to care, and collaboration with physicians, care teams, and community resources.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Social Work.
• Experience in oncology preferred or related field through previous job, internship, or volunteer program.
• LMSW required, LCSW preferred; OSW-C encouraged.

Responsibilities

• Coordinates all aspects of patient care and development related to the cancer service line.
• Educates the patient and caregiver on disease-specific guidelines and treatment options.
• Educates and/or facilitates patient and caregiver on program introduction, trial information, and referrals.
• Coaches and assists patients to remove barriers related to insurance, transportation, finances, language, etc.
• Implements risk assessments and participates in performance improvement activities; supervises interns as assigned.
• Provides backup support for other team members and represents the department in meetings.

Skills

Communication with patients

Care coordination

Advocacy

Education

Master's degree in Social Work

LMSW required, LCSW preferred; OSW-C encouraged

Job description

Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center is Louisiana's leading cancer care organization, caring for more patients each year than any other facility in the region. And with strategic hospital and physician partnerships, we are delivering on our mission to improve survivorship and lessen the burden of cancer. Mary Bird Perkins and its partners work together to provide state-of-the-art treatments and unparalleled collaborative, comprehensive cancer services. This culture of innovation helps attract the best cancer minds in the country, from expert physicians and highly specialized scientists to forward-thinking leaders in supportive care and other disciplines. Together, with our hospital and physician partners, we are one-hundred percent focused on cancer care.

Why Join Us?

We are looking for talented and highly-motivated individuals who demonstrate a natural desire to support the meaningful work of community oncologists and the patients we serve.

Job Description:

SCOPE OF POSITION:

The Social Work Navigator serves as an expert oncology population specific clinician, patient/client advocate and assists cancer/oncology patients/families to navigate the complex health care system in an organized, effective and efficient manner. This position will assist with the standardization and efficiency of care for patients in the cancer service line throughout the continuum of patient care. The Oncology Social Work Navigator models patient-centered care and assumes leadership responsibilities with high level contributions in direct patient interaction, the department, the service line, and across the institution.

ESSEBTIAL FUNCTIONS:

1. PEOPLE
   1. Develops strong relationships with physicians, their office staff, and healthcare providers to ensure effective communication in patient care.
   2. Serves as a liaison between ancillary departments, clinical specialists, primary care physicians and patients to ensure efficient patient flow for cancer service line patients.
2. Builds and maintains relationship with community organizations to help coordinate support services for patients. Educates patients, caregivers, staff and community on available support services.
3. CLINICAL NAVIGATION
   1. Coordinates all aspects of patient care and development related to the cancer service line. Facilitates entry of patients into the oncology program and assists with coordination of care through personalized interaction. Follows the population-specific patient throughout the continuum of care and into survivorship.
   2. Educates the patient and caregiver on disease-specific guidelines and treatment options to enable patient-led treatment decisions.
   3. Educates and/or facilitates patient and caregiver on introduction to program, clinical trial information, resource referrals, and genetic counseling.
   4. Coach and assist patients to remove barriers related to insurance coverage, transportation, child care, finances, language, etc. so they can focus on their treatment plan
   5. Implements risk assessments and monitors healthcare pathways with multidisciplinary teams and intervenes when necessary to improve timeliness of care. Actively participates in a wide range of performance improvement activities by recommending and leading improvements in patient safety-related processes at unit or cancer service line level. Ensures appropriate data is collected and submitted to appropriate databases for service lines supported.
   6. Assist with selection of student interns. Provides supervision of student interns as assigned to area.
4. OTHER DUTIES AS ASSIGNED
   1. Providing backup support for other team members during absences.
   2. Representing the department in meetings or on committees.
   3. Assisting with special projects or events.
   4. Supporting cross-functional teams or collaborating with other departments.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master's degree in Social Work
• Experience in oncology preferred or related field through previous job, internship, or volunteer program
• LMSW required, LCSW preferred; OSW-C encouraged

For more than 50 years, the staff at Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center has provided the highest quality care to our patients. We strive to hire the best qualified applicants to join our growing team.