Social Work Designee - Dunklau Gardens - Full Time - Days

About the role

Nebraska Methodist Health System focuses on providing exceptional care to the communities they serve and the people they employ. They emphasize a culture called "The Meaning of Care" which aims to make each delivery special, convey difficult diagnoses with compassion, go above and beyond for patient needs, and give high fives when patients overcome health challenges.

The social work designee supports the resident, family, physician, and interdisciplinary team in facilitating patient care with the goal of enhancing clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction. This role involves identifying and implementing discharge plans for complex and at-risk populations, assisting with eligibility determinations for social programs, and advocating for residents' best interests.

Responsibilities

• Identifies, initiates, and follows through with complex patient discharge plans that accommodate the patient's needs.
• Makes referrals to post-acute agencies based on patient preference, level of care, insurance/coverage limitations, and agency capabilities.
• Proactively plans and identifies barriers for a sustainable discharge plan and fosters early communication with all stakeholders.
• Affords assistance with advance directives, power of attorney documents, and living wills.
• Collaborates with the multidisciplinary healthcare team to develop and implement the care plan for long-term residents.
• Attends multi-disciplinary rounds, IDT, OPC, family meetings, and contributes to the meeting topic and/or care planning of the resident.
• Works with a diverse population of patients, including those in palliative care, hospice, the emergency department, dementia, and those with behavioral health diagnoses.
• Identifies socially complex/high-risk patients, performs interviews, and intervenes on their behalf.
• Aids the residents/families in financial matters in collaboration with the billing and business office staff, such as Medicaid applications.
• Provides counseling to patients, families, and caregivers to ensure optimal health benefits are met.
• Documents in the medical record or MDS to provide accountability and inform and update the physician and other members of the healthcare team.
• Participates in activities and other roles within the hospital and/or community that help improve the quality and/or quantity of services available.
• Consistently communicates using the principles of A.I.D.E.T.

Requirements

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in social work required. Master’s degree (e.g., MA, MS, MBA, MSW) or equivalent (e.g., CPA, PE, etc.) preferred. Master of Social Work (MSW) degree from a school accredited by the Council on Social Work Education preferred.
• Licenses/Certifications: Current American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) strongly preferred to have at time of hire, required within 3 months of hire.
• Experience: 3 years of experience as a social worker designee or like experience working with the geriatric population required. 2-3 years of experience as a medical social worker preferred. Experience working with the geriatric population within the healthcare environment preferred.

Skills

• Self-directed and an independent decision maker on many issues and interactions with patients and families.
• Socially sensitive to cultural, social, emotional, and mental aspects of people and responds appropriately.
• Ability to work collaboratively with many other departments within and external to the organization and must do so with the mindset of cooperation and support.

About the company

Nebraska Methodist Health System is made up of four hospitals in Nebraska and southwest Iowa, more than 30 clinic locations, a nursing and allied health college, and a medical supply distributorship and central laundry facility. From the day Methodist Hospital was chartered in 1891, service to their communities has been a top priority. They offer financial assistance, health education, outreach to diverse communities and populations, and other community benefit activities.

Nebraska Methodist Health System is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other classification protected by Federal, state or local law.