Social Worker (LCSW) - Emergency Department, Part-Time, Days (Sun-Tues) - Northwestern Memorial Healthcare

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The Emergency Department Social Worker LCSW reflects the mission, vision, and values of NM, adheres to the organization’s Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program, and complies with all relevant policies, procedures, guidelines and all other regulatory and accreditation standards.

A licensed, masters-prepared social worker who is an experienced and independent generalist clinician responsible for complex psychosocial interventions and facilitating the plan of care through discharge planning and resource utilization for all patient populations throughout the Northwestern Memorial Hospital campus.

The social worker proactively collaborates with Patient Care staff, Medical Staff, and other ancillary departments integrating the Department’s functions and services with other aspects of the patient care process. The role of the Emergency Department Social Worker involves providing direct face-to-face patient care using modalities such as brief intervention and crisis intervention in a fast-paced setting with the overall goal of reducing hospital admissions and improving access to resources and care.

For each problem, issue, or concern, develops observable and measurable goals and expected outcomes in the areas of problem resolution, utilization and resource management, and patient satisfaction.

Responsibilities:

Psychosocial Assessment & Intervention

• Meets directly with patient/family to perform a comprehensive assessment including social, emotional, cultural, mental status, environmental and financial circumstances in conjunction with interdisciplinary assessment of the patient.  Recommends a plan of intervention based on mutually established goals.
• Provides psychosocial interventions which include: 
  • Reactions to illness and disability, especially the chronically and terminally ill.
  • Facilitation of informed decision making (including advanced directives) and development of treatment/intervention plans.
  • Adjustment to the hospital setting and compliance with treatment plan.
  • Adjustment/coping with post-hospital care needs and linkage to community resources.
  • Gynecological/obstetrical-related issues including teen pregnancy, parenting issues, adoption planning, infant developmental problems, drug exposed neonate, fetal death, unplanned pregnancy, pregnancy termination, and other care as needed.
  • Issues related to insurance coverage and payment.
  • Psychiatric symptoms and chemical dependency.
  • Conflict resolution.
  • Family and personal relationship that impact the plan of care & discharge plans.
• Performs assessments of the physical environment and adequacy of support systems for outpatients to prevent a crisis and/or hospitalization.
• Provides Crisis Intervention and/or Protective Services for:
  • The elderly without support systems; with impaired mental status and/or victims of suspected abuse/neglect.
  • Victims of suspected sexual/physical assault (includes rape and molestation).
    • Coordinating safe discharge plan, including verifying transportation to safe location.
    • Ensuring coverage of appropriate medication.
  • Victims of suspected child abuse or neglect.
  • Victims of domestic violence.
    • Coordinating safe discharge plan, including verifying transportation to safe location.
  • Guardianship and/or protective services for patients with significant mental status impairment or unsafe living environment.
  • The homeless.
• Responds to trauma activations and cardiac arrests.
  • ​Responds to emergency department trauma activations, cardiac arrests and patient deaths to provide emotional support to patient and family. 
  • Completes appropriate trauma documentation.
  • Provides appropriate follow up appointments and resources related to trauma incident
  • Assists in identifying Unidentified Patients, including working with emergency medical services (EMS) and Chicago Police Department (CPD), searching belongings of patient as necessary and talking to family. 
  • Assists in identifying and notifying emergency contacts of trauma patients. 
  • Be present when the medical team notifies family of patient death and provides resources and information regarding body disposition as needed.  

Manages Discharge Planning through Placement Coordination and Resource Utilization

• Actively participates in the stages of discharge planning and ensures that the plan of care is coordinated, facilitated and effectively communicated to the physician(s), healthcare team, patient and family. 
• Coordinate with medical team to assess if patient’s discharge needs can be met from the Emergency Department and avoid a hospital admission.
• Provide initial screening for all new patients to assure medical necessity, source of funding, and likelihood of needing social work and/or discharge planning services.
• Serves as the point person for the plan of care as it applies to discharge planning needs through facilitation of direct and continuous communication and collaborative decision-making with medical team.
• Coordinates action plans when barriers are present to facilitate resolution.
• Coordinates discharge planning to ensure a timely discharge (placement or return to community) through early identification, assessment and intervention for post-hospital care needs. Patient assessment, plan coordination and changes to the plan occur, as necessary, to ensure that the patient is discharge when medically ready to:
  • Other acute hospitals
  • Rehabilitative facilities
  • Extended care facilities
  • Sub acute care
  • Chemical dependency care
  • Return to home
  • Other living arrangements
• Meets directly with patient and family to assess needs, preferences and develop appropriate plan that involves home health care services in collaboration with the physician.  Ensures/maintains plan consensus from patient/family, physician and payer.  Timely discharge is facilitated through early identification, ongoing assessment and intervention for post-hospital care needs.
• Collaborates and communicates with multidisciplinary team in all phases of discharge planning.  Ensures/maintains plan consensus from patient/family, physician, and payer as indicated.
• Proactively identifies and resolves delays and obstacles to discharge.  Utilizes advanced conflict resolution skills as necessary to ensure timely resolution of issues and system problems.
• Seeks consultation from and makes referrals to appropriate disciplines/departments as required to expedite discharges.
• Demonstrates knowledge of community resources and an ability to connect patients and families with these resources.  Acts as an advocate on behalf of the patient who requires assistance to gain access to needed information, resources, or services.
• Facilitates review of high-risk cases by Office of General Counsel, Risk Management and informs appropriate members of the healthcare team as to interventions needed.  Coordinates interventions in collaboration with healthcare team.
• Provides patient and family education that promotes wellness and increases knowledge of the health care system.
• Completes timely documentation of activities in the medical record and hospital wide information systems.
• Demonstrates knowledge of the utilization management process which includes level of care assignment, communication with payors and benefit authorization for applicable situations.
• Coordinates with GEDI RN to assist with resources for high-risk geriatric patients.
• Assess for appropriateness and refer patients to Transitional Care Clinic as needed.  
  • Schedules appointments for patients when Physician Referral Services (PRS) is unavailable.

Actively Participates in Clinical Performance Improvement Activities related to Case Management Services

• Assists in the collection and reporting of financial indicators including LOS, avoidable days, resource utilization, discharge barriers, cost per case, readmission rates, denial and appeals.
• Uses data to drive decisions and plan/implement performance improvement strategies related to case management for assigned patients/units, including financial, clinical, quality and patient satisfaction data.

Other responsibilities

• Provides 24/7 coverage in 12 hours shifts for the emergency department.
• Provides graduate level Social Work field supervision for students requiring a field placement.
• Assumes responsibility for professional development and social work CEU requirements by participating in workshops, conferences, and/or in-services.
• Complies with Northwestern Memorial Hospital policies on patient confidentiality including HIPAA requirements and Personal Rules of Conduct.

Required:

• Licensure in Illinois; Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
• Master's Degree in Social Work from a school of social work accredited by CSWE.
• Minimum of two years post-graduate experience in hospital Social Work or related settings.
• A high level of interpersonal skills to affect positive outcomes.
• Organizational skills necessary to prioritize and manage an appropriate caseload of patients coupled with performing the Social Worker functions.  Self-direction required for daily work.
• Analytical skills necessary to independently collect, analyze, and interpret data, resolve problems requiring innovative solutions and to negotiate in sensitive situations.

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Northwestern Medicine is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation or any other protected status.