Hackensack Meridian Health
Location
Edison, NJ | United States
Job description
Our team members are the heart of what makes us better. At Hackensack Meridian Health we help our patients live better, healthier lives — and we help one another to succeed. With a culture rooted in connection and collaboration, our employees are team members. Here, competitive benefits are just the beginning. It’s also about how we support one another and how we show up for our community. Together, we keep getting better - advancing our mission to transform healthcare and serve as a leader of positive change.
The Oncology Social Worker shall be knowledgeable about oncologic diseases and their treatments, psychosocial implications for individuals and families, appropriate interventions and available community and governmental resources. Oncology social worker must have knowledge of the usual course of cancer and its treatment, including genetics, so that patients and families can be helped to anticipate and deal with changes in individual and family life.
The Social Worker is responsible for providing emotional support to oncology patients, families and caregivers. The Social Worker conducts assessments and develops plans of care, which may include counseling around specific presenting problems, education about oncology services and philosophy, grief counseling, coping strategies, referrals to needed resources and discharge planning when needed. The Social Worker works under the direction of the department manager and in a manner consistent with the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) code of ethics. May be asked to facilitate support groups.
A day in the life of a Social Worker MSW at Hackensack Meridian Health includes:
1. Will provide psychosocial assessments and treatment to patients and their families related to illness adjustment, coping mechanisms and discharge planning. Provide age, cultural and spiritual specific care to their clients. Identify each patient's unique treatment, self-management and discharge planning needs. The comprehensive psychosocial assessments that they perform ensure that patients receive age-specific services. Use psychiatric assessments to formulate accurate diagnostic impressions that are used to facilitate treatment and discharge plans. Act as patient advocates by recommending resources for patient's needs, such as social support and financial assistance.
2. Maintain effective communications with health care providers related to the patient's psychosocial and psychiatric needs. Maintain positive working relationships with all hospital departments and management to provide optimal patient care. Maintain a clear understanding and adherence to designated oncology policies and procedures. Work with physicians, oncology nurses and treatment teams to develop and deliver the patient's plan of care. Promote patient and family education to ensure best treatment outcomes are achieved. Maintain the necessary documents for licensed clinical social workers' scope of practice. Provide clinical information for placement referrals to outside agencies.
3. Provide relative information and referral services to patients, caretakers and families related to community resources and state agencies. Manage a caseload of independent patients, which requires constant follow-up and communication with external clients. Stay up to date with knowledge of the current eligibility criteria for a wide range of community services and resources. Build positive working relationships with community agencies and initiate contact with private, county and state resources to facilitate discharges that require less restrictive levels of care. Develop customized discharge plans for patients with special needs.
4. Provide clear, concise, accurate and timely documentation in patient's electronic medical records according to departmental policies and state regulations. Maintain clear and consistent documentation of their daily assessments of patient care in order to help physicians provide proper medical care. Must document a variety of activities, such as the initial psychosocial assessment, the proposed care plan, all collateral contracts, insurance reviews and discharge planning efforts. Must ensure the confidentiality and secured storage of all privileged communication with patients and families. Oncology social worker must follow Clinical Social Work Practice documentation guidelines.
5. The Social Worker performs case management duties, which includes utilization review, quality improvement and community resource development activities. Participate in departmental, committee and community meetings. Develop and evaluate patient care policies and procedures. Coordinate resources and develop collaborative service relationships with similar oncology departments in other hospitals. Provide psychosocial education and perspectives to subordinate health care providers and interdisciplinary team members. Interpret and provide analysis to treatment leaders on how relative laws and regulations affect discharge planning and proposed treatments.
6. Acts as the Psychosocial Services Coordinator to the Cancer Committee for the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer accreditation (CoC). Maintains all required elements are met for the CoC standard(s) as it relates to psychosocial services.
7. Participates in chart rounds, new patient orientation, quality projects, cancer conferences.
8. Other duties and/or projects as assigned.
9. Adheres to HMH Organizational competencies and standards of behavior.
Education, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required:
1. Master's degree in Social Work (MSW) from a CSWE program required.
2. Computer proficiency for the purpose of documentation and continuing education is required.
3. Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
4. Proficient computer skills that may include but are not limited to Microsoft Office and/or Google Suite platforms.
Education, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Preferred:
1. One-year experience in a hospital setting highly preferred. Previous oncology experience highly preferred. Internship experience will be considered for entry into the position.
Licenses and Certifications Required:
1. NJ Licensed Clinical Social Worker or NJ Licensed Social Worker.
Licenses and Certifications Preferred:
1. Oncology Social Worker Certified.
If you feel the above description speaks directly to your strengths and capabilities, then please apply today!
Job tags
Salary