The Medical Social Worker, as a member of a multi-disciplinary team, provides biopsychosocial assessment, brief counseling, care coordination, information/referral, crisis ntervention, 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.

 

This position is a flexible work position, which allows some remote work. Remote work at OHSU is a work arrangement under which an employee performs the duties and responsibilities of their position, and other authorized activities, from a non-OHSU location as part of their approved, regular work schedule. The Social Worker is expected to be in person at least half of their work time, depending on their specific position's expectations. The social worker should have a private space at home, dedicated to work, and no Protected Health Information should be printed. Social Workers are expected to see patients in person, when possible, which may require coming to the hospital at short notice on a remote day.

 

Work Unit Addendum, Relief
Relief Medical Social Workers are trained to cover ambulatory, inpatient, the Emergency Department, both in pediatrics and adults. After initial training, Relief Medical Social Workers are required to maintain basic skills and competencies to work in all areas.

 

Relief Medical Social Workers are required to work three (3) of OHSU’s recognized holidays per year. They will read and respond to emails every seven (7) business days and respond to text messages, often on short notice, to support coverage requests. They must be able to review and provide availability on a shared calendar every four (4) weeks. Relief Medical Social Workers are also required to work overnights and weekends.

 

Relief Medical Social Workers must be available four (4) shifts per pay period. Relief Medical Social Workers are provided their schedules at least twenty-eight (28) days in advance. To ensure this, they must have access to a personal computer that allows them to provide availability within a timeframe. They will also be added to a text message group to communicate urgent staffing needs.

• 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.
• Assess patient/family support needs regarding: transportation, housing, clothing and educational/patient vocational rehabilitation and training materials and refer to appropriate resources.
• Maintains accurate and timely documentation of patient care activities an efficient manner per departmental policies. Participates in Department of Care Management and assigned service meetings, in services and conferences, as indicated including Complex Patient Interdisciplinary Rounds. Provides support to patient care staff following traumaticevents through individual or group consultation. Reviews literature on pertinent patient care/Social Work service issues and conducts in services regarding psychosocial patient care issues and Social Work services. Meets in regularly scheduled supervisory sessions. Participates in patient rounds as appropriate. Complete all OHSU/JCAHO mandatory education requirements and activities within established time lines. Yearly competencies as identified by department.

• Masters of Social Work
• 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
• CSWA or LCSW in Oregon
• Ability to perform the job duties with or without accommodation.

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

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.