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:

• 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.
• Document evaluations, assessment, plans and activities in patient’s medical record.
• Communicate patient/family needs, concerns and plans with medical, nursing, and other hospital staff, and with community and government agencies as appropriate.
• Coordinate patient referrals to community health and social service agencies.
• Work with clerical staff to make appropriate follow-up appointments for all emergency room patients.
• Maintain and advocate patient rights.
• Maintain confidentiality in all patient matters.
• Participate in department quality assurance activities.
• Maintain an effective interface between the patient and family, hospital staff, community and government agencies.
• Maintain current knowledge of community resources and new practices and concepts in the field of social work.
• Attend meetings and participation hospital and community committees as required.
• 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.
• 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.