Locations: Mobile, Alabama
Categories: Professional
Position Type: Temporary Part-Time
Hours Per Week: PRN
Req ID: 22941
USA Health is Transforming Medicine along the Gulf Coast to care for the unique needs of our community. USA Health is changing how medical care, education, and research impact the health of people who live in Mobile and the surrounding area. Our team of doctors, advanced care providers, nurses, therapists, and researchers provides the region's most advanced medicine at multiple facilities, campuses, clinics, and classrooms. We offer patients convenient access to innovative treatments and advancements that improve the health and overall well-being of our community.
The Social Worker will work closely with physicians, bedside nurses, utilization-management specialists and associated clinical professionals to assist patients/families in an acute setting effectively transition to the next level of care
Abides by and enforces all compliance requirements and policies and performs these responsibilities in an ethical manner consistent with the organization's values: adheres to hospital policies including confidentiality
Enhances professional growth and development through participation in educational programs
Requires minimal supervision to adequately perform essential functions
Utilizes proper body mechanics when performing job duties
Performs initial discharge planning patient assessment within 24 hours of admission and evaluates the patient's baseline function versus the discharge needs
Communicates and collaborates with patients, their families, physicians, therapy services, nursing, utilization review nurses and other departments as necessary to formulate an effective discharge plan for the patient
Provides the patient and family resources based upon his/ her insurance options and helps them to formulate an individual discharge plan based upon their needs
Sends referrals to home health, SNF, LTC, LTACH, DME, !RF and other facilities to facilitate discharge planning; provides information from the electronic medical record to support the medical necessity for such services
Performs reassessment based upon changes in the patient's condition or pt.lfamily needs
Ensures continuity of patient care by acting as a resource for patient information
Upon finalizing the discharge plan, ensures patient has the medication needed, transportation to home, and all necessary equipment is in place
Documents all discharge plans and assessments accordingly based on department policy
Supports RN CM interdisciplinary patient care rounds or conferences
Communicates the discharge process as part of the rounds
Documents avoidable days to assist leadership in capturing performance improvement opportunities
Establishes both patient and provider goals to determine next steps required to provide the patient with a positive experience and well-established transition of care
Evaluates inpatient high utilizer patient population (4 or more hospitalizations in 6 months) for any potential risks for readmissions based upon the risk scoring in the electronic medical record
LSW to evaluate social determinants of health as well as differences within initial assessment and discharge needs
Based upon findings, provide resources to help reduce the possibility of readmission
If readmitted, perform readmission assessment within 24 hours of admission; should opportunities present that would help reduce further readmissions, the LSW will place appropriate referrals for further services
Collaborate with outside agencies and community case management programs to formulate individual plans of care to reduce readmissions
Functions as a team player and leader in cooperative spirit inter and Intra departmentally
Demonstrates the ability to provide competent patient care to implement an effective discharge plan to the following patient populations: neonate, pediatric, adolescent, adult, and geriatrics
Performs discharge planning assessment upon admission on all self-pay, patients and any other patients identified by a healthcare team member as having specific discharge needs
Provides discharge planning by:
Collaborating with physicians, UR staff, and other healthcare team members to transition patients to the appropriate level of care
Documenting all actions taken in the medical record/department database
Does not perform direct patient care responsibilities
Compliance with the five pillar's Standards of Performance: Attitude, Appearance, Communication, and Commitment to Co-workers, Customer Waiting, Elevator Etiquette, Privacy, Safety Awareness, Sense of Ownership, and Answering Customer Calls
Participates on committees as assigned
Participates in Performance Improvement activities through quantity measurement or participation of !CARE process as assigned
Completes all mandatory department, educational and hospital requirements
Adheres to current Infection Control and Safety Standards
Regular and prompt attendance
Ability to work schedule as defined and overtime as required
Related duties as assigned
Employees must be in a regular position, working 20 hours or more per week (.50 FTE or greater) to qualify for benefits.
Master's Degree in social work from an accredited institution Required OR
Bachelor's Degree in social work from an accredited institution and 2 years of social work experience Required OR
Bachelor's Degree in a related field from an accredited institution and 3 years of social work experience Required
Licensure with the state of Alabama as a Social Worker Required
Comparable combination of education and experience may substitute for the above requirements.
Knowledge, Skills, and AbilitiesAbility to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients, staff, and representatives of community agencies. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients, staff, and representatives of community agencies. Excellent listening and communication skills. Excellent listening and communication skills. Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing Strong interpersonal and customer service skills Strong interpersonal and customer service skills
The University of South Alabama is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, genetic information, disability, protected veteran status or any other applicable legally protected basis. EO Employer – minorities/females/veterans/disabilities/sexual orientation/gender identity.
USA Health is changing how medical care, education and research impact the health of people who live in Mobile and the surrounding area. Our team of doctors, advanced care providers, nurses, therapists and researchers provide the region's most advanced medicine at multiple facilities, campuses, clinics and classrooms. We offer patients convenient access to innovative treatments and advancements that improve the health and overall wellbeing of our community.
Our network includes USA Health University Hospital, USA Health Children's & Women's Hospital, USA Health Mitchell Cancer Institute, USA Physicians Group and the USA College of Medicine. Each year, our team of 180 physicians, 240 residents and fellows, 70 mid-level providers and 800 nurses handle some 185,000 clinic visits and 350,000 outpatient procedures. The USA Health System delivers 2,800 babies a year, more than any other regional hospital, and treats patients through some 60,000 emergency room visits annually.
In addition to advanced and innovative patient care offered at University hospitals and clinics, USA's medical education programs provide first-class training experiences for the next generation of physicians and scientists.
