Job Description

Social Work Assistant

Social Work Assistant - M- F, 8a-4:30p with rotating wknds & holidays

PRIMARY FUNCTION:

To support case managers (CM) and social workers (SW) in assisting patients and their families to recognize and utilize internal and external resources to resolve social, emotional, and environmental needs by verifying benefits, obtaining insurance authorizations, calling in referrals and orders to vendors and accurately entering data into clinical information systems.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provides clerical support to the department
• Produces standardized reports, as requested, in a timely and accurate fashion
• Maintains accurate, up-to-date documentation in the departmental records
• Sets priorities and demonstrates strong sense of urgency
• Creates, organizes, and maintains departmental files and forms
• Appropriately schedules meetings taking into consideration the subject, urgency, and time needed
• Prioritizes and arranges details of patient/family conferences/meetings for department members
• Performs audit activities under the supervision of the Managers of Case Management
• Meets with case managers (CM) and social workers (SW) on assigned units each morning at assigned time to discuss discharge planning needs of patients on the unit and status of yesterday’s outstanding discharge planning activities
• Contacts referral agencies to make post discharge arrangements for patients
• Makes follow up appointments for patients as requested by case managers
• Notifies CM and/or SW and patient/family of arranged appointments and documents appointments in Cerner
• Assists CM or SW by offering choice of post-acute providers
• Notifies designated facilities of need for admission and verifies bed availability
• Updates facilities of patient’s discharge condition and final discharge plans
• Prints/copies sections of the chart to fax or send to accepting agencies/facilities to promote continuation of patient’s treatment plan
• Arranges transportation as directed by the Case Manager
• Demonstrates knowledge of discharge planning resources available in the area
• Documents discharge planning activities in the electronic health record or other location as per department policy or process
• Communicates with CM and SW regarding the discharge planning status of all patients
• Collaborates with interdisciplinary care team to discuss patient’s discharge plan and needs with the patient/ family or patient representative/care team. 
• Collaborates with CM and SW to obtain choices for post-acute services and document choices per CM policy in Cerner
• Collaborates with CM and SW to confirm actual and projected discharge date with patient and family/patient representative and verify transportation is arranged
• Ensures authorization is obtained for post-discharge services, if required, or follow up with facility/payer daily if authorization is not obtained within 24 hours
• Collaborate with CM and SW to contact referral agencies to make post discharge arrangements for patients including verification of bed availability

• Update CM and SW on status of assigned discharge planning tasks throughout the day and before leaving for the day
• Performs assigned work safely, adhering to established departmental safety rules and practices. Reports to supervisor in a timely manner, any unsafe activities, conditions, hazards, or safety violations that may cause injury to oneself, other employees, patients and visitors.
• Performs other related duties as required.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:

• High School diploma or equivalent required.
• Bachelor degree in social work or related field/behavioral sciences preferred.
• Three years of experience in a support role in care management will be considered equivalent to an associate degree in social work or related field/behavioral sciences preferred.
• Home health care and/ or managed care experience preferred.
• An equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

The ability to multitask and work in a high paced work environment.

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