Healthcare Social Workers

Provide individuals, families, and groups with the psychosocial support needed to cope with chronic, acute, or terminal illnesses. Services include advising family caregivers. Provide patients with information and counseling, and make referrals for other services. May also provide case and care management or interventions designed to promote health, prevent disease, and address barriers to access to healthcare.

• Refer patient, client, or family to community resources to assist in recovery from mental or physical illness and to provide access to services such as financial assistance, legal aid, housing, job placement or education.
• Utilize consultation data and social work experience to plan and coordinate client or patient care and rehabilitation, following through to ensure service efficacy.
• Identify environmental impediments to client or patient progress through interviews and review of patient records.
• Organize support groups or counsel family members to assist them in understanding, dealing with, and supporting the client or patient.
• Oversee Medicaid- and Medicare-related paperwork and recordkeeping in hospitals.
• Modify treatment plans to comply with changes in clients' status.
• Counsel clients and patients in individual and group sessions to help them overcome dependencies, recover from illness, and adjust to life.
• Educate clients about end-of-life symptoms and options to assist them in making informed decisions.
• Develop or advise on social policy and assist in community development.
• Monitor, evaluate, and record client progress according to measurable goals described in treatment and care plan.
• Collaborate with other professionals to evaluate patients' medical or physical condition and to assess client needs.
• Investigate child abuse or neglect cases and take authorized protective action when necessary.
• Conduct social research to advance knowledge in the social work field.
• Advocate for clients or patients to resolve crises.
• Supervise and direct other workers providing services to clients or patients.
• Plan and conduct programs to combat social problems, prevent substance abuse, or improve community health and counseling services.