The Social Worker is accountable for providing biopsychosocial assessment to patient system that serves to guide a plan of intervention which promotes obtaining and maintaining the maximum benefit of health services.
Performs assessments to obtain information on home environment, family relationships, and health history, and patients' personality traits.Evaluates data gathered for medical plan of treatment, available social service programs, and knowledge of casework or group work and devise pertinent therapy programs to provide maximum benefits.Assists patients and/or families through various conferences to understand, accept and follow medical recommendations and instructions.Acts as patient advocate and participates in conferences on behalf of patients with other hospital personnel and community agencies.Provides advisory services on social problems, arranges for discharge or postoperative care at home or in institutions.Provides and coordinates discharge planning and follow-up to assure continuity of care.Provides counseling services to attempt to alleviate anxieties and/or fears concerning disabilities, disfiguring illnesses, or an uncertain future and to assist the patient in returning to community life. Furnishes advice on financial assistance to patients or families during illnesses.Performs or assists in studies and research projects concerned with problems occurring in the field of medical social work.Prepares various statistical and follow-up reports for use in planning further programs and evaluating department's performance,Participates in planning educational and social programs with community agencies, the hospital, and home health.Serves as consultant and resource person for other medical team members on the social and personal aspects of patients.Performs other related duties within the scope of the job classification as assigned.
Education (experience can be substituted for education)Master's Degree of Social Work Required
Work Experience (education can be substituted for experience)1-3 years Two (2) years casework experience in health institution, child welfare agencies, psychiatric clinics and family counseling services. Preferred
Knowledge, Skills and AbilitiesResponsible for coordinating and directing the necessary social resources for help to the patient.Responsible for maintaining open channels of communication between the patient, family, hospital staff, and outside agencies.Responsible for the supervision of staff and its services.
Licenses and CertificationsSocial Worker Required
Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH), the Healthcare System of Appalachia, and ranked as one of the Top 10 Employers in Kentucky by Forbes Magazine, is a not-for-profit health system operating 13 hospitals in Barbourville, Hazard, Harlan, Hyden, Martin, McDowell, Middlesboro, Prestonsburg, South Williamson, West Liberty and Whitesburg in Kentucky; as well as Beckley and Hinton in West Virginia, as well as multi-specialty physician practices, home health agencies, home medical equipment stores and retail pharmacies. ARH employs more than 6,000 people with an annual payroll and benefits of $330 million generated into our local economies. ARH also has a network of more than 600 active and courtesy medical staff members. ARH is the largest provider of care and single largest employer in southeastern Kentucky and the third largest private employer in southern West Virginia, and is consistently recognized for its medical excellence.
