Medical Social Worker

Department Overview:

The Medical Social Worker, as a member of a multi-disciplinary team, provides biopsychosocial assessment, brief counseling, care coordination, information/referral, crisis intervention, patient advocacy and associated services to patients, families, significant others and other community agencies who may be involved in the patient's care.

 

The Medical Social Worker directs efforts towards assisting patients and their families with adjusting to new diagnoses, changes in physical functioning, challenges of hospitalization, and eventual readjustment to the community. The Social Work 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 will practice in accordance with performance standards, ethical principles, and core values with a commitment to service excellence. This position may provide social work services to patients admitted anywhere in the hospital including Adult units, Pediatric units and the Emergency Department depending on department need, or assist with coverage needs for other care management social work services. 

 

This position provides support to 30+ outpatient clinics located on Marquam Hill and at the South Waterfront Center for Health and Healing.

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. 20% YES
• 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. 

Required Qualifications:

• A Master’s Social Work (MSW) required.  

• Certificate of Clinical Social Work Associate (CSWA) or Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) required for employees who practice clinical social work.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Health care experience preferred.
• Bilingual language skill is strongly preferred

Additional Details:

Requires prioritization.

Frequent interruptions in an evironment of frequent change and fluctuations.

For ambulatory clinics 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.

 

Posted 7/31/2026 11:29am

Why apply to OHSU?: We are Oregon's only public academic health center. In addition to caring for patients, we lead groundbreaking research. We also train the next generation of health care professionals. As Portland's largest employer, we give you opportunities to learn and advance in a system of hospitals and clinics across Oregon and Southwest Washington. All are welcome. OHSU welcomes people of all ages, ethnicities, genders, national origins, religions and sexual orientations. We are striving to build an anti-racist, multicultural institution and encourage people with diverse backgrounds to apply. To request reasonable accommodation, contact askhr@ohsu.edu