Social Worker, Navigation

About the Organization

Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center is Louisiana’s leading cancer care organization, caring for more patients each year than any other facility in the region. With strategic hospital and physician partnerships, we deliver on our mission to improve survivorship and lessen the burden of cancer. The Center and its partners provide state-of-the-art treatments and unparalleled collaborative, comprehensive cancer services. This culture of innovation attracts expert physicians, highly specialized scientists, and forward-thinking leaders in supportive care and other disciplines.

About the Role

The Social Work Navigator serves as an expert oncology population-specific clinician and patient advocate, assisting cancer and oncology patients and families to navigate the complex healthcare system in an organized, effective, and efficient manner. This position standardizes and improves the efficiency of care for patients in the cancer service line throughout the continuum of care. The Oncology Social Work Navigator models patient-centered care and assumes leadership responsibilities in direct patient interaction, the department, the service line, and across the institution.

Responsibilities

• People
  • Develops strong relationships with physicians, their office staff, and healthcare providers to ensure effective communication in patient care.
  • Serves as a liaison between ancillary departments, clinical specialists, primary care physicians, and patients to ensure efficient patient flow for cancer service line patients.
  • Builds and maintains relationships with community organizations to help coordinate support services for patients.
  • Educates patients, caregivers, staff, and the community on available support services.
• Clinical Navigation
  • Coordinates all aspects of patient care and development related to the cancer service line.
  • Facilitates entry of patients into the oncology program and assists with coordination of care through personalized interaction.
  • Follows the population-specific patient throughout the continuum of care and into survivorship.
  • Educates the patient and caregiver on disease-specific guidelines and treatment options to enable patient-led treatment decisions.
  • Educates and/or facilitates patient and caregiver on introduction to program, clinical trial information, resource referrals, and genetic counseling.
  • Coaches and assists patients to remove barriers related to insurance coverage, transportation, child care, finances, language, etc., so they can focus on their treatment plan.
  • Implements risk assessments and monitors healthcare pathways with multidisciplinary teams, intervening when necessary to improve timeliness of care.
  • Actively participates in performance improvement activities by recommending and leading improvements in patient safety-related processes at the unit or cancer service line level.
  • Ensures appropriate data is collected and submitted to relevant databases for service lines supported.
  • Assists with the selection of student interns and provides supervision of student interns as assigned.
• Other Duties
  • Provides backup support for other team members during absences.
  • Represents the department in meetings or on committees.
  • Assists with special projects or events.
  • Supports cross-functional teams or collaborates with other departments.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in Social Work.
• Experience in oncology preferred or related field through previous job, internship, or volunteer program.
• LMSW required, LCSW preferred; OSW-C encouraged.