The Medical Social Worker is a qualified professional who provides medical social services to patients in the home as prescribed by the attending physician. The Medical Social Worker is a member of an interdisciplinary team.RESPONSIBLE TOClinical SupervisorExecutive DirectorQUALIFICATIONSMaster’s degree from a school of social work approved by the council on Social Work education. License by state preferredOne year of social work experience in a health care settingReliable, independent means of transportation to make home visits. Drivers must have a valid driver’s license and drive a vehicle with insurance limits as established by the state.DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIESClinical SkillsProvides rehabilitative and supportive casework geared to restoring patients to their optimal level of social and health adjustment. This includes assisting patients and their families to understand, accept and follow medical recommendationsDevelops plan of care cooperatively with the physician, patient/family and other team members with revisions based on the patient’s conditionAssist patients to utilize the resources of their families and the community. This may be accomplished by either referring the patient to resources or acting as an intermediary on behalf of the patient in his/her dealings with other health and welfare agenciesAssists patients and their families with personal and environmental difficulties that interfere with obtaining maximum benefits from medical care. This ranges counseling members of the patient’s family to assisting patients with admission to a nursing or personal care home.Supervises the treatment program of the social worker assistant, reviewing and co-signing clinical visit notes and conferring, as appropriate to patient needs.DocumentationA. Completes the medical social service evaluation within 48 hours of referral and submits the documentation to the office within 24 hours of the visitB. Completes required documentation for ongoing services on the day of the visit and submits it to the office daily. All documentation must be submitted by 9:00 am on the day following the last day of the monthC. Completes the discharge order and summary and submits it to the office within 24 hours of the eventD. Writes Add Orders from the physician as they are receivedE. Documents all verbal orders obtained from the physician: To include: Physician name, date, time, visit frequency, duration of visits and signature at Start of care, recertification, resumptions of care, etc.F. Addresses all areas of the social service visit noteG. Documents all communications on the MD/care coordination formCommunicationA. Consults with the physician and other members of the health team including the primary nurse for the purpose of assisting them to understand the significant social, emotional and environmental factors related to the patient’s health problemsB. Interacts with field staff, patients, families, physicians, other health disciplines, agencies, insurance companies, hospitals, labs, employers, government agencies and representatives as necessaryC. Maintains confidentiality of client informationD. Reports to the primary nurse/therapist about the patient situation including:a. Problems concerning the patient and how these may be resolvedb. Changes in patient needs and how these can be metc. Patient progress toward goals and functional statusE. Communicates with other health team members to achieve interdisciplinary coordinated careF. Call the Clinical Supervisor with any immediate patient clinical needs