Social Work Specialist - Gene Therapy

Department Overview:

The Social Work Specialist works to screen patient/family for psycho-social needs and determines current and anticipated patient care concerns.  The SW Specialist connects patients and families with community resources in order to access care. The SW Specialist provides families with information regarding patient care issues, facilitates in the coordination of follow up care in OHSU clinics or in the community; participates in patient and family’s health care education, assists with housing and transportation needs as necessary. 

 

Specialty Addendum:

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.

Function/Duties of Position:

• The Social Work specialist screens patient/family for psycho-social needs, and determines current and anticipated patient care concerns. The SW Specialist advocates for patients and families, screens for abuse, suicide or medical neglect and makes appropriate referrals. The SW Specialist screens patients and families’ ability to cope with major life changes, provides support to patients and families, and refers to a Medical Social Worker as necessary. The SW Specialist provides families with information regarding patient care issues; facilitates in the coordination of care in OHSU clinics or in the community; participates in patient and family’s health care education, assists with housing and transportation needs as necessary. Performs drug and alcohol screening and refers for appointment follow up.
• Documentation: Maintains accurate and timely documentation of patient care services, including charting, reports and documentation. Submits patient care statistics in a timely manner.
• Information Systems: Creates and assists in form development as needed; utilizes data base access system for information relevant to patient’s care.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree
• 2 years of social service work experience providing supportive counseling to clients on a 1:1 basis which includes full responsibility for handling each case plan.
• Knowledge of casework methods and techniques. Knowledge of patient’s family’s rights. Knowledge of medical terminology. Knowledge of implications of the effect of illness, injury and/or disability on patients and families.

• Compliance with Code of Conduct, Respect in the workplace and Applicable policies, procedures and agreements related to position, department or OHSU as a whole

• Must be able to perform the essential functions of the position with or without accommodation

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work or related field preferred
• 3 or more years of hospital experience

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.