Job Description

Description

JOB SUMMARY: To create optimal outcomes for the patient and family by managing complex psychosocial and economic co-morbidities. Acts as an advocate for patients and coordinates and collaborates with the healthcare team to provide quality, cost-effective care and to promote positive patient outcomes for UTMB patients. ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS: • Provides admission assessment of each family or significant other to extend support and determine willingness, ability and availability for caring for the hospitalized patient upon discharge. Documents and collaborates with Care Manager and others regarding findings • Works with the Care Manager and the treatment team to develop a safe and timely Discharge Plan A and B that complies with regulations and laws regarding patient and family wishes. • Leads or co-leads Care Coordination Rounds. • Assesses the patient/family dynamics and creates plan of care to provide support and crisis intervention as needed. • Contributes to plan of care for patient as appropriate. • Serves as the lead in obtaining charity and financial resources, legal guardianship, adoptions, psychiatric referrals and competency determinations. • Provide support and counseling to patients and families related to social work indicators. • Identifies need for organizes, and conducts family meetings. • Participates and provides vital information in care coordination rounds. • Follows up with next steps as discussed in rounds. • Manages family expectations about discharge/transfer all along the admission. • Collaborates with team members to formulate and implement discharge/transfer plans. • Focuses on Psychosocial issues and community linkages and referrals. • Works with CM associates to facilitate phones, faxes, and copies forms, etc as needed to secure decisions and as requested by unit staff. • Keeps families informed of the patient and the team regularly to prevent crises. • Completes necessary documentation to facilitate patient’s movement through levels of care. • Adheres to internal controls and reporting structure. MARGINAL OR PERIODIC JOB FUNCTIONS: • Performs related duties as required. REQUIRED EDUCATION / EXPERIENCE: Bachelor's degree in related field and three (3) years related experience. Must have LBSW. EQUIPMENT: Standard office equipment. WORKING ENVIRONMENT/LOCATION OF POSITION: • Hospital, ambulatory care, or community environment. • Conditions such as noise, odors, cramped workspace and/or fumes could sometimes cause discomfort. • Moderate physical effort may be required, such as walking, standing, and lifting materials, equipment, and/or objects • Must be able to move about the physical facilities in which they are located in order to visit patients • Vision, hearing, speech, and sense of touch abilities must be adequate to enable one to quickly and accurately perform tasks such as reading small print, reading from monitoring equipment, defining details, sending and receiving clear and accurate oral communication. • Shift, on-call, holiday and weekend work may be required. • Alertness and careful attention to detail will be required to avoid injury. • May be exposed to occupational hazards such as communicable diseases, and disoriented or combative patients. OTHER: May be required to be on standby and work extended shifts in situations deemed necessary by department management or hospital administration. Specific job assignments, requirements or physical location of positions may be changed. Job is security sensitive and subject to security clearance. Specific job requirements or physical location of some positions allocated to this classification, may render this position security sensitive, and thereby subject to the provisions of Section 51.215, Texas Education Code. ANY QUALIFICATIONS TO BE CONSIDERED AS EQUIVALENTS IN LIEU OF STATED MINIMUMS REQUIRE THE PRIOR APPROVAL OF THE VICE PRESIDENT FOR HUMAN RESOURCES AND EMPLOYEE SERVICES. THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MEDICAL BRANCH AT GALVESTON IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY / AFFIRMATIVE ACTION UNIVERSITY Compensation • Hiring Range: 42.00