The Medical Social Worker, as a member of a multi-disciplinary team, provides bio-psychosocial 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 toward 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.

 

Relief Definition

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 time-frame. 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.

• A Master’s Social Work (MSW) required. 
• Effective January 1, 2011, Certificate of Clinical Social Work Associate (CSWA) or Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) required for employees who practice clinical social work.

Job Related Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (Competencies):

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

• 1 year Health care experience preferred
• Bilingual language skill are strongly preferred

• Requires prioritization.
• Frequent interruptions in an environment of frequent change and fluctuations.
• For inpatient units accepts accountability and responsibility.
• May be exposed to body fluids, tissue, possible radiation exposure, and infectious processes.
• Subject to computer work for several hours, as needed.
• Able to utilize office equipment within work area.

Posted 8/7 10:55am

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.