Social Worker, Emergency Department – Per Diem

Broad Function:

Will be responsible for providing psychosocial services to patients and their families in the Emergency Room, to facilitate adjustment to illness and institutionalization; providing information and assistance with financial and discharge planning needs, in collaboration with patients, families, medical and nursing personnel, other hospital staff and community agencies; maintaining professional standards and acting in accordance with established department objectives and procedures. Navigator will also coordinate discharge referral appointments for all Emergency Room patients.

Major Responsibilities:

1. Manage Emergency Room patient caseload (both med/surg and psych), collect collateral information and provide clinical information to ED Provider and Psychiatry on-call, complete discharge planning and make community referrals with follow-up appointments on an ongoing basis.

2. Document evaluations, assessment, plans and activities in patient’s medical record.

3. Communicate patient/family needs, concerns and plans with medical, nursing, and other hospital staff, and with community and government agencies as appropriate.

4. Coordinate patient referrals to community health and social service agencies.

5. Work with clerical staff to make appropriate follow-up appointments for all emergency room patients.

6. Maintain and advocate patient rights.

7. Maintain confidentiality in all patient matters.

8. Participate in department quality assurance activities.

9. Maintain an effective interface between the patient and family, hospital staff, community and government agencies.

10. Maintain current knowledge of community resources and new practices and concepts in the field of social work.

11. Attend meetings and participation hospital and community committees as required.

12. Maintain competency in caring for patients of all age groups and developmental stages, and maintain competency as specifically indicated by orientation guidelines for a particular unit.

13. Perform other duties as directed.

Qualifications:

Must have a Master’s Degree in Social Work or related field or five to seven years experience working as a medical social worker with a strong background in psych and crisis intervention . LMSW preferred.