The Medical Social Worker, as a member of a multi-disciplinary team, provides biopsychosocial assessment, brief counseling, care coordination, information/referral, crisis intervention, patient advocacy and associated services to patients, families, significant others and other community agencies who may be involved in the patient's care.

 

The Medical Social Worker directs efforts towards assisting patients and their families with adjusting to new diagnoses, changes in physical functioning, challenges of hospitalization, and eventual readjustment to the community. The Social Work Department has corresponding teaching and research functions related to health and healthcare delivery practices.

 

The Medical Social Worker provides direct intervention on an as-needed basis with infants, children, adolescents, adults and elderly patients and/or families. The Medical Social Worker will practice in accordance with performance standards, ethical principles, and core values with a commitment to service excellence. This position may provide social work services to patients admitted anywhere in the hospital including Adult units, Pediatric units and the Emergency Department depending on department need, or assist with coverage needs for other care management social work services.

 

Work Unit Addendum, Emergency Department, NOC Float
This Medical Social Worker position primarily works in the Emergency Department. There is a heavy focus on addressing the needs of patients with mental health. The NOC Float also has a focus on pediatric mental health overnight. Emergency Department Social Workers will regularly complete mental health assessments on patients in mental health crisis. They will make level of care recommendations including inpatient or outpatient. They will safety plan with patients and their loved ones, plan for mental health follow up, and adhere to all relevant statutes related to mental health discharges.

 

OHSU is a Level One Trauma Center. Emergency Department Social Workers support patients and their loved ones during mild, moderate, and severe trauma related admissions. The Social Worker will review the POLST registry, surrogate decision-making documents, notify next of kin or surrogate decision maker of admission. The Social Workers provide support to the loved ones of patients that are critically ill or die.

 

The Emergency Department is a 24/7 service. There are times when the Medical Social Worker may be required to work outside their normal schedule. They could include overnight or during the day when that is not their normal schedule. There are also last-minute staffing needs sent out via text message at varying hours.

 

• Conducts psychosocial evaluations of patients/families and significant others including, but not limited to the following: adjustment to medical or health condition; care coordination; mental health status; adjustment/compliance to treatment process; substance usage; child and elder abuse/neglect assessments; domestic violence issues; cognitive status (including potential guardian issues); and patient/family resources.
• Provides crisis intervention and supportive short-term counseling to patients/families and significant others as necessary to meet immediate psycho-social needs including, but not limited to: Trauma/Emergency Department/ On Call/ Family Notification, CODE Response (family intervention); unanticipated change in health conditions/suicidal ideation; teenage pregnancy; single parent pregnancy/parenthood, domestic violence, child and elder abuse/neglect.
• Provides grief/loss counseling and education regarding: fetal demise; actual/pending death of patient/family member; complicated pregnancies; pregnancy termination support, postpartum depression; chronic/acute stress associated with life circumstances; divorce/separation; loss of independence associated with illness or disability.
• Provides brief psychotherapy including: individual short-term psychotherapy; group work including information/support groups, family support, patient therapy); regarding but not limited to issues of adoption, abortion, domestic violence, family of origin, sexual/gender, substance abuse, parenting, relationship adjustment to disabilities and chronic or acute illness.
• Provides patient advocacy and associated services to patient/family and other involved agencies/parties regarding decision-making; advance directives; ethics consultations; court holds; guardianship/conservatorship; citizenship cases; and social cultural factors.

• Masters of Social Work

• CSWA or LCSW in Oregon

• Assessment Proficiency

• Short-term Counseling

• Crisis Intervention

• Excellent task Prioritization

• Effective Communication Skills

• Proficiency and skill in providing social work services in a healthcare setting

• Time Management 

• Organization

• Patient Advocacy  

• Problem Solving 

• Creativity 

• Adaptability 

• Critical thinking  

• Conflict Resolution

• Task Reprioritization

• Compliance with Code of Conduct, Respect in the workplace and Applicable policies, procedures and agreements related to position, department or OHSU as a whole

• Must be able to perform the essential functions of the position with or without accommodation

• 1 year hospital experience
• Bilingual language skill are strongly preferred 
• LCSW

Pay Range: $42.32 - $58.12 per hour (Commensurate with qualifications, experience and internal equity)

Oregon Health & Science University values a diverse and culturally competent workforce. We are proud of our commitment to being an equal opportunity, affirmative action organization that does not discriminate against applicants on the basis of any protected class status, including disability status and protected veteran status. Individuals with diverse backgrounds and those who promote diversity and a culture of inclusion are encouraged to apply. To request reasonable accommodation contact the Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Department at 503-494-5148 or aaeo@ohsu.edu.