MSW - Palliative Care - Inpatient (PT, Days)

Serves as an integral member of a self-directed inpatient interdisciplinary palliative care team. Provides comprehensive, psychosocial assessments, coordination and implementation of age appropriate social work services to meet the complex needs of patients/families/significant others in the hospital setting. The primary focus of the Inpatient Palliative Care Social Worker (IPC LCSW) is to assist patients and families/caregivers in coping with intense and difficult social, emotional and practical arrangements related to the patients end of life care goals, needs and issues. The social worker encourages respect for individuality, independence and patient choice, while collaborating on policies and systems that respect the cultural, religious and ethnic differences among patients and families. Social work contributes to the teams understanding of team development and working together, as well as understanding the patients beliefs, behaviors and barriers regarding the members illness.

Professional behavior supporting regional, facility and department policies procedures, goals and values. Activities include assessment and coordination of physical, psychosocial, cultural and spiritual needs of patients who are appropriate for inpatient palliative consultation/care. Participates in interdisciplinary care planning and provides services in accordance with established individualized IPC team plan of care, including coordination and referrals to bereavement programs/supports when appropriate. Assists the Interdisciplinary team to increase efficiency, productivity and ongoing development of the Inpatient Palliative Care Consult Teams role within the inpatient setting as well as within the Continuing Care Service Department. Assures professional competency through maintaining working knowledge of current social work practice, available community services, member benefits and resources and regulatory standards. Selects and attends education programs to keep current in area of practice. Participates in quality improvement and utilization management activities as requested, such as clinical record review, occurrence reporting, focused studies, and process and outcome measurement. Provides social work to hospice patients in the inpatient as requested. Performs other duties as requested.