Career Center

Summary
The Social Worker - Sickle Cell Clinic is a patient advocate who helps patients identify what resources are available to them. The Social Worker helps to address the psychosocial needs of the Sickle Cell patient population to ensure continuity of care. This role's purpose is to bridge the gap of social injustices in health care through our flagship comprehensive care center. This unique role provides care to patients in the inpatient setting, in an urgent care setting, and for well-health maintenance visits.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES Principal Duties:

1. Obtains social history related to medical problems and planning through interviews with patients and families. Identifies, interprets, and assists in the resolution of social and obtaining maximum benefits from healthcare services. Serves as liaison between the healthcare team, patient, family, and appropriate outside agencies.

2. Helps patients obtain medical assistance, medications, and travel assistance to clinic appointments. Schedules psychiatry consults in the clinic and assists in referrals to specialists or to the adult Sickle Cell Infusion Center. Collaborates with insurance companies to obtain authorizations for patient services, referrals, and pharmaceuticals. Serves as contact person for case managers.

3. Documents patient encounters in the electronic medical records system. Scope of practice and documentation will be supervised by a Licensed Clinical Social Worker.

4. Prepares monthly reports as needed.

5. Collaborates with health care providers and other community agencies in developing comprehensive follow up and support systems for adults with sickle cell disease. Assists in obtaining resources for dental and vision care and housing. Assists with crisis intervention.

6. Works with patients in the UMCAP Sickle Cell Infusion Center, facilitates transfers from the Johns Hopkins Sickle Cell Clinics, transfers from Children's National Heme-Onc clinic and the inpatient hospital.

7. Responsible for communication with donors.

8. Responsible for outreach activities and mailings (newsletters, fliers).

9. Scope of Responsibility: Knows the informal policies, procedures, and practices necessary to conduct the normal function of a specific section, unit, or work area. Is aware of the role of the position and its potential impact on the working unit. Billing for clinical services is not permitted with the Licensed Social Work Associate license.

10. Decision Making: Carries out duties and responsibilities with limited supervision. Makes decisions and establishes work priorities on essentially procedure-oriented operations. Engages in regular and continuous decision making having limited impact on people, costs, and/or quality of service.