• The Social Worker helps patients and families adjust to illness and life-style changes due to illness through counseling and coordination of community, social and hospital services, and intervenes appropriately in cases of suspected domestic violence or abuse.

CARE PLANNING, INTERVENTIONS, AND IMPLEMENTATION

Completes psychosocial assessments and plans of intervention. 

• Interviews patient and family members to assess the social, emotional and environmental status of the patient.
• Assesses current levels of understanding of diagnosis, prognosis and coping methods.
• Evaluates data to determine an integrated plan of action.
• Assists family and patient to understand integrated plan of intervention.
• Utilizes community and hospital resources maximally for intervention.
• Interprets social work services and status to healthcare team.
• Documents all interactions in Electronic Medical Record.
• Assists patients to complete forms as needed.

COMMUNICATION - 

Effective Communication across the disciplines. 

• Facilitates communication between providers, nursing staff, clerical staff, and patients.
• Demonstrates understanding of patient needs.
• Functions as a liaison between the patient and community/hospital/social agencies.

PATIENT GUARDIANSHIP MANAGEMENT

Manages patient/family transitions and discharges. 

• Facilitates and manages legal guardianship, competency determinations, and adoption cases.
• Initiates patient/family and provider team meetings to develop and plan strategies related to psychosocial and economic issues, particularly those related to care progression and transition.
• Conducts support groups for specific patient populations.

COLLABORATION - 

Collaborates with case managers, physicians, & the interdisciplinary team to improve the quality and efficiency of patient care.

• Actively participates and provides pertinent information in length of stay meetings, multidisciplinary rounds, clinical practice teams and department meetings.
• Assists in identifying and creating solutions to barriers that result in delays in discharge.
• Completes statistical information according to departmental, federal, and state regulations.
• Adheres to Care Management department specific and organizational policies and standards as well as standards from external regulatory agencies and accrediting bodies.
• Leads multidisciplinary rounds when necessary.
• Works closely with Case Managers to integrate efforts with appropriate members of the multidisciplinary team.
• Assists department in meeting and exceeding its commitment to CQI.

PATIENT MANAGEMENT 

Manages patient/family transitions and discharges. 

Interviews patient/family within one business day of referral to obtain data on personal, social, medical, emotional, cultural, and religious history in order to delineate problems requiring social work intervention.

• • Evaluates patient/family information and selects appropriate social work methodology to develop an age-appropriate plan.
  • Arranges for needed care in the home, long-term care facility, rehabilitative facility, substance abuse facility, or other alternative setting in a timely manner.
  • Provides support and counseling to patient/family experiencing and/or anticipating issues adjusting to illness, catastrophic diagnoses, changes in living situations and bereavement.
  • Provides assessment counseling, information, referrals, and other resource assistance to patient/family as needed. Identifies high-risk social situations to intervene in and coordinate resources to promote follow-up care.
  • Provides advance directive education, counseling and support as needed. Works closely with patients and families surrounding end-of-life care.
  • Assesses, coordinates interventions, and makes appropriate referrals in cases of disabled, substance abuse, suspected or actual situations of child or adult abuse or neglect, or other forms of domestic violence or sexual abuse.

#LI-AH1

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Education Requirements

• Master's Degree

Required Skills

• Excellent Communications Skills
• Excellent Interpersonal Skills
• General Clerical Skills
• Microsoft Word

Discover why our hospital is a great place to work—take a virtual tour of Reading Hospital here: https://youtu.be/hH6ItnuIIsc

Tower Health, a regional healthcare system, serves communities across multiple counties in Pennsylvania. Its network includes Reading Hospital, Phoenixville Hospital, Pottstown Hospital, and St. Christopher's Hospital for Children (in partnership with Drexel University). Committed to academic medicine and training, Tower Health offers various programs, including residency and fellowship programs, the Drexel University College of Medicine at Tower Health, and the Reading Hospital School of Health Sciences. Additionally, the system provides a wide range of healthcare services, such as Reading Hospital Rehabilitation at Wyomissing, home healthcare via Tower Health at Home, TowerDirect ambulance and emergency response, Tower Health Medical Group, Tower Health Providers (a clinically integrated network), and Tower Health Urgent Care facilities across its service area.

 Why Reading Hospital?

• 2025 America’s 50 Best Hospitals Award
• Recipient of Excellence Award: Stroke Care, Neurosciences, Pulmonary Care, and Critical Care
• Magnet Status
• Level 1 Trauma Center
• Ranked Among Top Ten Hospitals in Pennsylvania
• 5-Star Rating for Overall Hospital Quality
• Vizient Graduate Nurse Residency Program for all new RN grads
• Comprehensive benefits to include earned time off, enhanced tuition assistance, retirement savings with employer match and so much more!