Clinical Social Worker-GIM ED-Addiction Consult Team

Department: General Internal Medicine Research
Location: Boston, MA
Schedule: 40 hours per week, On-site

About the role

The Emergency Department Addiction Consult Team (ED-ACT) is an interdisciplinary consult service comprised of attending addiction physicians, advanced practice practitioners, social work staff, and patient care coordinators. The service provides consultation in the emergency department (ED) for patients who use drugs to improve evidence-based treatment, care coordination, and linkage to treatment. The social worker is an integral member of ED-ACT and will conduct substance use disorder screenings and assessments on patients, methadone dose verifications, and provide robust case management/discharge planning.

Responsibilities

• Assess patients to ascertain emotional and social problems, utilizing the department’s psychosocial assessment tool as a guideline.
• Conduct brief intervention support with patients for whom it is indicated.
• Conduct substance use disorder screenings and assessments among ED patients to inform the development of patient risk reduction, diagnosis, and treatment plans by the ED-ACT.
• Work collaboratively with Opioid Treatment Programs to confirm methadone doses for ED patients and assist with linking patients to OTP when patient navigator unavailable: methadone dose verifications, direct admissions, guest dosing.
• Collaborative case management and safe discharge to reduce the number of patients who leave ED without being seen and formulate successful discharge plans that link patients to outpatient prevention and treatment care, as well as reduce the likelihood of ED-representation.
• Outreach to families, emergency contacts, and support networks of hospitalized patients with addictions, as needed.
• Identify issues that must be addressed during the patient’s care and develop a plan using a team-based approach that takes into account the patient’s goals (and patient’s guardian’s goals, when appropriate).
• Utilize Social Work technique and theory to assist patients and families in coping with illness or social problems to achieve improved functioning and emotional state.
• Report any and all suspected cases of abuse and neglect and follow up to ensure patient receives timely comprehensive consultations and compliance with legal mandates.
• Consult and collaborate with healthcare team members to ensure that patient’s emotional and social needs are addressed.
• Participate in daily team huddle with the ED on behalf of ED-ACT.
• Act as a liaison between ED physicians/APPs, ED nurses, and a variety of BMC-based collaborating addiction treatment and care coordination programs, including but not limited to: Project ASSERT, Faster Paths, Multi-Visit Patient Project (MVPP).
• Document each patient encounter in the medical record or the Department clinical record concurrently according to Department policies.
• Maintain patient confidentiality according to hospital policy, practicing professional discretion when determining the inclusion of any patient information into medical record or department clinical record notes.
• Comply with departmental, regulatory, and professional requirements for documentation recording and data collection.
• Update and ensure accurate service data available for quality improvement initiatives.
• Submit department statistics and other records and reports within required time frames.
• Obtain continuing education units necessary to maintain licensure.
• Assist management in the operation of a quality department by participating in department programs and complying with department policies and procedures.
• Help lead and/or co-facilitate groups including: group curriculum development, recruitment, and content delivery.
• Identify weaknesses in operation and recommend improvements.
• Maintain a complete understanding of emergency procedures.
• Conform to hospital standards of conduct, including those pertaining to patient rights, to provide the best possible customer service and patient care.
• Consistently use clear, concise, and effective communication (written/oral) and comply with departmental policies when sharing/documenting relevant patient care data.

Other Duties

• Participate in grant writing, grant reporting, and in the preparation of program summaries.
• Assist in the preparation of abstract writing and presentations for national conferences.
• Provide other administrative and special project assistance as required or assigned by Medical Director.
• Adapt to changing departmental needs, including but not limited to, offering assistance to other team members, adjusting assignments, and other functions as determined by Medical Director.
• Assist in orientation/training of new staff members and volunteers.

Requirements

• Master’s Degree from an accredited school of Social Work.
• Massachusetts license as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker or Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (or eligible for licensure within 90 days of hire).

Skills

• Knowledge of Social Work process and community resources and agencies relative to health, protective services, crisis intervention, disability, substance use, etc.
• Advanced interpersonal skills necessary to be socially perceptive in accepting and relaying confidential information, communicating policies and procedures, and interacting effectively with various healthcare professionals to develop and maintain effective therapeutic relationships with patients and families.
• Highly organized and detail-oriented; able to work both independently and as part of a team.
• Comfortable in a fast-paced and dynamic work environment (sense of humor is valued).
• Empathetic attitude towards people suffering from substance use disorders as having a chronic health condition; positive attitude towards delivery of evidence/science-based care for people with substance use disorders and absence of a dogmatic inflexible approach to such patients/participants.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously, utilize time and resources efficiently, and establish priorities to coordinate and complete competing demands within established timeframes.
• Excellent English language skills to summarize and communicate orally and in writing moderately complex information in varied formats to internal and external customers.
• Cultural sensitivity and comfort with a wide range of racial and ethnic populations. Bicultural/Bilingual competency a plus.
• Computer literacy with ability to use standard word processing, spreadsheet programs, and email (i.e., MS Word, Excel, Outlook) and web browsers.

Benefits

• Competitive pay.
• Tuition reimbursement and tuition remission programs.
• Highly subsidized medical, dental, and vision insurance options.
• Career Advancement/Professional Development: Access a wealth of ongoing training and development opportunities that will enhance your skills and expand your knowledge base.
• Pioneering Research: Engage in groundbreaking research projects that are driving the forefront of biomedical science.

Pay

Compensation Range: $78,000.00 - $113,000.00

This range offers an estimate based on the minimum job qualifications. However, our approach to determining base pay is comprehensive, and a broad range of factors is considered when making an offer. This includes education, experience, skills, and certifications/licensures as they directly relate to position requirements; as well as business/organizational needs, internal equity, and market-competitiveness. In addition, BMCHS offers generous total compensation that includes benefits (medical, dental, vision, pharmacy), discretionary annual bonuses and merit increases, Flexible Spending Accounts, 403(b) savings matches, paid time off, career advancement opportunities, and resources to support employee and family well-being.