Social/Case Worker

Creating Life Better Here starts with you. At San Juan Regional Medical Center, we're more than a healthcare provider—we're a values-driven organization dedicated to delivering exceptional care. As a team member, you help fulfill our mission to make life better here for our community.

Case Workers are entrusted to provide pro-active social work for high-risk patients to optimize the patient/family experience in potentially life-altering situations. They are an integral part of a multidisciplinary team who coordinates a variety of services such as complex discharge planning, crisis intervention, family meetings, bereavement, client advocacy, referrals, prevention, education, psychosocial support and support for Social Determinants of Health.

Required Behaviors:

• As you go about fulfilling this mission, your work habits and work relationships should embody SJRMC’s values. These values are our culture, our identity as an organization. Sacred Trust, Personal Reverence, Thoughtful Anticipation, Team Accountability and Creative Vitality ask more of us than merely completing some list of tasks. Our values ask for a deeper level of commitment, and what is asked of us, we freely give because we believe in our mission.

Required Qualifications:

• Graduate of an accredited bachelor or master school of psychology or related field
• Assertive and diplomatic communication skills
• Self-motivated and accountable
• Team oriented
• Highly organized

Preferred Qualifications:

• Computer experience
• One (1) year experience in a healthcare setting

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Interview patients and/or family members to obtain information about Social Determinants of Health (SDoH) including social, emotional, and financial factors which impact health status. 
• Provides resources and counseling for SDoH issues.
• Completes referrals to psychiatric organizations and facilitates transfers as recommended by ED providers.
• Arrange transportation home from the ED in complex situations.
• Coordinates complex discharge dispositions from the ED.
• Responds to referrals from patients, families, physicians, hospital staff, and community agencies.
• Participate in interdisciplinary team approach to coordinate post-hospitalization resources/services for complex discharges and those with psychosocial, financial issues.
• Discuss Advance Directives with patient/family and obtain a copy of the medical record.  Maintain ability to counsel patients and families on end-of-life issues.
• Demonstrate knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span and possess the ability to assess data reflective of the patient’s requirements relative to his/her age specific needs.
• Demonstrate knowledge and skill in providing for patient legal and ethical concerns.
• Provide mental health, alcohol and substance abuse screening and referral.
• Provide crisis intervention and/or short-term counseling.
• Facilitate self-determination and self-care through the tenets of advocacy, shared decision making, and education.
• Practice cultural competence, with awareness and respect for diversity.
• Assist with navigating the health care system to achieve successful care during transitions.
• Support and maintain compliance with federal, state, local, organizational, and certification rules and regulations.
• Maintain adequate working knowledge of local resources.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of entitlement programs, eligibility requirements and benefits for state and federal assistance programs.
• Pursue professional excellence and maintain competence in practice.
• Each employee is responsible for implementing SJRMC’s Service Standards into their daily work:

                                                     Safety, Courtesy, Effectiveness, and Stewardship

• Other duties as assigned.

Physical Demands and Environmental Work Conditions:

• Prolonged standing/sitting/walking
• Fast-paced environment
• High level of activity with many interruptions
• Possible exposure to communicable disease
• Repetitive motion (i.e., keyboard usage)

Sensory Requirements:

The employee will need to be able to hear:

• Alarms on equipment/fire alarms/overhead announcements
• Patients/families verbal discussion
• Instructions/feedback for other healthcare providers

The employee will need to be able to:

• See and focus on close-up and distant objects
• Have intact: peripheral vision and depth perception