Under supervision from the Licensed Clinical Social Worker, the Medical Social Worker provides direct service to patients and their families where illness, medical care and treatment are complicated by social and emotional problems. Medical Social Workers are also consult with hospital personnel and community members and assist as needed.

Core Competencies

Completes Psychosocial Assessments to identify barriers affecting optimal patient/family functioning and to develop appropriate treatment plan/interventions and linkage to resources.

Assesses for abuse/neglect, complies with mandatory reporting laws; and serves as a liaison with responsible agencies. Logs all reports made into Departmental Abuse Log books. Completes needs assessment for patients, families and staff (as needed) and provides appropriate clinical intervention and linkage to community resources. Provides coping skills assessment for patients, families and staff and provides appropriate education, cognitive restructuring and/or counseling as needed. Provides counseling as indicated, including supportive counseling, end-of-life counseling and bereavement counseling. Provides education, advocacy, and linkage to patients, families and staff as indicated. Collaborates with case managers/interdisciplinary team to provide patients and families with the most appropriate treatment plan, intervention and resources. Provides education and assistance with Advance Directives to patients, families, staff and community members as needed. Attends and participates in hospital committee meetings, departmental staff meetings, and shared decision making councils as requested. Facilitates continuity of care via collaboration with coworkers; members of the interdisciplinary treatment team and outside agencies. Assists with updating and communicating pertinent community resources. Ensures department specific patient safety. Obtains continuing education to promote self-growth, to maintain clinical competency, and to meet current licensure and certification requirements.
• Seeks clinical consultation from Licensed Clinical Social Work team and Social Services Manager as appropriate.

Department Specific Competencies

Follows medical recommendations and provides service planned to restore patients to optimal social and health adjustment.

Helps patients/significant others identify community resources for follow-up care and support including facilitating contact with social worker. Gathers data on the social, economic and cultural factors which may influence health status or the ability to render hospice care in the home.
• Makes complete initial assessment of the home care needs of the patient and family including physical, emotional and mental status. Gathers data on the social, economic and cultural factors which may influence health status of the ability to render hospice care in the home.

Education