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Job Summary:

The Palliative Care Social Worker is accountable for psycho-social assessments and provision of medical social services for the patient and family, in accordance with the interdisciplinary plan of care. Palliative Care is a collaborative interdisciplinary care delivery model which accesses, plans, implements, coordinates, monitors and evaluates options and services to meet an individual's health needs with focus on symptom management, comfort, and quality of life treatment/care decisions through communication and available resources to promote quality. The incumbent in this position will be responsible for compliance with all federal and state laws and regulation governing the privacy and of patients' protected health information.

Essential Functions & Responsibilities:

• Involved in identifying patients for Palliative social work services through collaboration and communication with the Palliative interdisciplinary team and appropriately opens case for active social work services.
• Provides counseling to patient/family to help facilitate adjustment to serious illness.
• Provides consultation to all palliative care patients both in the inpatient setting as well as the outpatient setting as needed.
• Facilitates effective interdisciplinary palliative care planning and coordination through participation in Interdisciplinary Rounds on Palliative care units and with Grand Rounds.
• Serves as a role model and mentor for clinical effectiveness initiatives in Palliative care.
• Uses communication, negotiation, and conflict resolution skills to identify and resolve obstacles to timely testing, treatment, or transition to the appropriate level of care.
• Promotes clinical effectiveness through the identification of process barriers and system issues that impede transition to Palliative and/or Hospice care. Initiates process improvement efforts using an interdisciplinary team approach.
• Assists in the development of process and outcome measurements to trend performance improvement over time.
• Responds as soon as possible to inpatient Palliative care consults and referrals by documenting opening note with preliminary needs assessment and goals of care within of receipt of consult/referral during regular work schedule.
• Interviews patients and family members to comprehensively assess the patient's health status, risk factors, lifestyle choices, functional status, psychosocial status, person and community support systems, financial resources, goals of care and home environment conditions.
• Maintains active and ongoing communication with all stakeholders during the hospital stay and revises the discharge plan accordingly.
• Participates in coverage for holidays and weekends on a rotational basis per Palliative Care Standard.
• Bereavement - Assess rick and intervenes clinically to identify potential for complicated grief and explores anticipatory bereavement related to possible death along the continuum of illness.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Social Work from an accredited program, with LBSW licensure required OR Master's degree in Social Work from a school of social work accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.
• AHA BLS Provider CPR required at hire.
• Two years of experience in an acute care hospital setting is preferred.
• Knowledge and experience in Palliative Care, end-of-life, and Hospice Care.
• Experience with computer technology required - experience with Windows based programs, e-mail, Microsoft Word, and keyboarding.
• Demonstrated abilities for self-management, critical thinking, problem resolution, interdisciplinary communication, and proven ability to work with diverse personalities and situations.
• Valid driver's license and must meet MWHC Driver's Suitability criteria.

As an EOE/AA employer, the organization will not discriminate in its employment practices due to an applicant's race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, and veteran or disability status.