The Medical Social Worker, as a member of a multi-disciplinary team, has the primary responsibility for assessment, counseling, care coordination, information/referral, crisis intervention, patient advocacy and associated services to patients, families, significant others and involved parties/agencies. The efforts are directed at assisting in the patient/family adjustment to illness, injury or disability and secondary adjustment to hospitalization or other treatment, and readjustment to the community. The Department has corresponding teaching and research functions related to health and healthcare delivery practices. The Medical Social Worker provides direct intervention on an as-needed basis with infants, children, adolescents, adults and elderly patients and/or families. The Medical Social Worker is expected to practice in accordance with performance standards, core values and with a commitment to service excellence. May provide social work services to patients in Adult units, Peds unit and/or ED.
The Pediatric Neuromuscular team at Doernbecher Children’s supports patients with Duchenne’s Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), Spinal Muscular Atrophy and other neuromuscular conditions affecting pediatric patients across the state of Oregon and in areas of Southern Washington, Idaho and Northern California. We provide ongoing, collaborative, multi-disciplinary care for patients across the lifespan of these conditions. Extensive research is being done on these conditions and the Pediatric Neuromuscular team actively participates in several clinical trials which are exploring the next generation of care and treatment.
In addition to pediatric neuromuscular, this role will also support other gene therapy specialties including, but not limited to the hematology and oncology, cardiomyopathy and ocular clinics. These specialty clinics (and others) are actively participating in research to discover the next breakthrough in care and pioneering personalized medicine for a variety of rare disease conditions. The specialty clinics who deliver gene therapy at OHSU are experts in their field and provide cutting edge, team-based care for pediatric patients at Doernbecher Children's Hospital and adult patients at OHSU, Casey Eye and the Knight Cardiovascular Institute.
The Pediatric Ambulatory Gene Therapy Social Worker addresses the psychosocial needs of patients and families in an outpatient specialty clinic setting. The patients are being referred for new medications and medical trials, often requiring are coordination and support to access care. Social Work interventions support the partnership of specialty medical care and behavioral health in providing optimal physical care. The social worker utilizes skills targeting the improvement of health and wellbeing for a large variety of pediatric patients with emotional and behavioral issues commonly seen in conjunction with complex medical conditions. The work includes meeting with patients and their guardians, collaborating with community partners, and providing recommendations to the specialty care teams. The social worker operates within established practices, and participates in the planning, design and implementation of programs. The social worker understands the essential role of all the patient’s medical providers and functions as a partner on the team.
Function/Duties of Position Conducts psychosocial evaluations of patients/families and significant others including, but not limited to the following: adjustment to medical or health condition; care coordination; mental health status; adjustment/compliance to treatment process; substance usage; child and elder abuse/neglect assessments; domestic violence issues; cognitive status (including potential guardian issues); and patient/family resources.Provides crisis intervention and supportive short-term counseling to patients/families and significant others as necessary to meet immediate psycho-social needs including, but not limited to: Trauma/Emergency Department/ On Call/ Family Notification, CODE Response (family intervention); unanticipated change in health conditions/suicidal ideation; teenage pregnancy; single parent pregnancy/parenthood, domestic violence, child and elder abuse/neglect.Provides grief/loss counseling and education regarding: fetal demise; actual/pending death of patient/family member; complicated pregnancies; pregnancy termination support, postpartum depression; chronic/acute stress associated with life circumstances; divorce/separation; loss of independence associated with illness or disability.Provides brief psychotherapy including: individual short-term psychotherapy; group work including information/support groups, family support, patient therapy); regarding but not limited to issues of adoption, abortion, domestic violence, family of origin, sexual/gender, substance abuse, parenting, relationship adjustment to disabilities and chronic or acute illness.Provides patient advocacy and associated services to patient/family and other involved agencies/parties regarding decision-making; advance directives; ethics consultations; court holds; guardianship/conservatorship; citizenship cases; and social cultural factors.Assess patient/family support needs regarding: transportation, housing, clothing and educational/patient vocational rehabilitation and training materials and refer to appropriate resources.Maintains accurate and timely documentation of patient care activities an efficient manner per departmental policies. Participates in Department of Care Management and assigned service meetings, in services and conferences, as indicated including Complex Patient Interdisciplinary Rounds. Provides support to patient care staff following traumaticevents through individual or group consultation. Reviews literature on pertinent patient care/Social Work service issues and conducts in services regarding psychosocial patient care issues and Social Work services. Meets in regularly scheduled supervisory sessions. Participates in patient rounds as appropriate. Complete all OHSU/JCAHO mandatory education requirements and activities within established time lines. Yearly competencies as identified by department. Required Qualifications A Master’s Social Work (MSW) required. Health care experience preferred.Certificate of Clinical Social Work Associate (CSWA) or Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) Able to implement assessments, short term counseling, crisis intervention, advocacy. Excellent task prioritization, time management, and communication skills.Must be able to perform the essential functions of the position with or without accommodation
Preferred Qualifications 1 year hospital experience. 1 year experience in a primary care clinic setting.LCSW Additional Details Requires prioritization..Frequent interruptions in an evironment of frequent change and fluctuations.For inpatient units accepts accountability and responsibility.May be exposed to body fluids, tissue, possible radiation exposure, and infectious processes.Subject to computer work for several hours, as needed. Able to utilize office equipment within work area. All are welcome Oregon Health & Science University values a diverse and culturally competent workforce. We are proud of our commitment to being an equal opportunity, affirmative action organization that does not discriminate against applicants on the basis of any protected class status, including disability status and protected veteran status. Individuals with diverse backgrounds and those who promote diversity and a culture of inclusion are encouraged to apply. To request reasonable accommodation contact the Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Department at 503-494-5148 or aaeo@ohsu.edu.