Social Worker Care Manager - Rush University Medical Center

Location: Chicago, IL

Hospital: RUSH University Medical Center

Department: Care Management

Work Type: Full Time (Total FTE between 0.9 and 1.0)

Shift: Shift 1

Work Schedule: 8 Hr

Summary:

The Social Worker Care Manager LSW 1 works with the Social Work Care Manager 2, Social Work Care Manager 3, Care Management Social Work Director, RN Care Managers, physician practices, persons/families, as well as inpatient and outpatient teams to facilitate effective care management, coordination of services at the appropriate level of care, and implement sustainable transition plans. The SW CM 1 contribute to the team's effectiveness by coordinating person centric transitional care plans, resolving barriers, and addressing in-depth psychosocial needs. They manage a complex caseload, actively support performance improvement initiatives, and function to provide effective communication between persons, physician practices, the hospital, and the community. Exemplifies the Rush mission, vision and values and acts in accordance with Rush policies and procedures.

Responsibilities:

1. Has a specialized knowledge, education and experience in the fields of human behavior, psychology and problem solving. They will be responsible for managing complex patient caseloads.

1. Provide comprehensive psychosocial assessments on their patients.

1. Educate patients on the levels of heath care; entitlements; and community resources.

1. Helping patients and families adjust to hospital admission; possible role changes; exploring emotional/social responses to illness and treatment.

1. Promoting communication and collaboration among health care team members.

1. Educating hospital staff on patient psychosocial issues.

1. Coordinating patient discharge and continuity of care planning and throughput.

1. Ensuring communication and understanding about post-hospital care among patient, family and health care team members.

1. Advocating for patient and family needs and facilitating referrals for continuity of care.

1. Documents all activities in a comprehensive, appropriate manner.

1. Referral to legal services.

1. Facilitating support groups if appropriate.

1. Provides leadership, support and clinical expertise within Care Management teams to achieve outcomes.

1. Functions as a role model within the team. Demonstrates ownership of the person centered plan, complex psychosocial issues and anticipated outcomes. Provides proactive planning, coordinated transition plans, and implements readmission avoidance strategies. Serves as a resource to physicians, nurses, peers and CM staff in managing complex cases and resolving issues.

1. Provides leadership and facilitates communication within the inpatient and cross continuum teams to assure effective sustainable care transitions from hospital to home, within community care settings, and/or to supplement care for high risk patients.

1. Supports team education and training functions related to complex psychosocial issues and transitions in care coordination. Conducts education for staff including care managers, liaisons, nurses, physicians and allied health professionals, as requested.

1. Implements effective communication between inpatient units, care management team, physicians, nurses, pharmacy, persons/families, Health & Aging, and external providers.

1. Coordinates interdisciplinary conferences, serves on committees and leads work groups to address psychosocial/care coordination issues. Effectively responds to Abuse & Neglect calls.

1. Models and maintains a quality based proactive person centered approach to achieve department and institutional goals and process improvements.

1. Models a person centered approach to support to the treatment team, person/family directed plans and engagement. Supports customer satisfaction among persons, families, physicians, external case managers, payers, vendors, and inpatient staff.

1. Participates in research to evaluate project initiatives.

1. Applies evidenced based practice.

Other information:

Required Job Qualifications:

• Master's Degree in Social Work from an accredited university.

• Current license in Illinois as a Social Worker, LSW OR proof of a pending license obtained within 90 days of hire required. Employee will be subject to demotion or termination if licensure is not obtained within the given timeframe.

• Ability to perform all job components and serve as a team resource for clinically complex cases within their professional (social work) expertise.

• Experience as a health care provider for the neonate, pediatric, adolescent, adult and /or geriatric patient, and knowledge in care management, discharge planning, social service, are usually.

• Experience related to psychosocial issues, crisis management, conflict resolution, and person centered planning and care transitions.

• Skilled educator and communicator.

• Excellent interpersonal and team building skills, and ability to collaborate effectively with physicians, nurses, and other staff.

• Process improvement skills, ability to perform tasks independently, prioritize workload, problem-solve, and analyze data.

• Strong working knowledge of computer databases, electronic medical record systems, and info technology.

• Willingness to maintain flexible work hours, assume other duties as assigned.

• Maintains professional growth and meets licensure/CEU requirements by attendance at various internal/external meetings, seminars, workshops.

• Willingness to present information to peers, team, etc.

Preferred Job Qualifications:

• LCSW or commitment to obtain.

Physical Demands:

• Ability to travel throughout the Medical Center.

Disclaimer: The above is intended to describe the general content of and requirements for the performance of this job. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements.

Rush is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics.