Social Worker - Bangor, ME

$ 10,000 Sign-On Bonus for External Candidates

Optum is a global organization that delivers care, aided by technology to help millions of people live healthier lives. The work you do with our team will directly improve health outcomes by connecting people with the care, pharmacy benefits, data and resources they need to feel their best. Here, you will find a culture guided by diversity and inclusion, talented peers, comprehensive benefits and career development opportunities. Come make an impact on the communities we serve as you help us advance health equity on a global scale. Join us to start Caring. Connecting. Growing together.

Opportunities at Northern Light Health, in strategic partnership with Optum. Whether you are looking for a role in a clinical setting or supporting those who provide care, we have opportunities for you to make a difference in the lives of those we serve. As a statewide health care system in Maine, we work to personalize and streamline health care for our communities. If the place for you is at a large medical center, a rural community practice or home care, you will find it here. Join our compassionate culture, enjoy meaningful benefits, and discover the meaning behind: Caring. Connecting. Growing together.

The Social Worker (Discharge Planning) as part of a multidisciplinary team, including the patient / family, physicians, nurse's therapists, and payors ensures the patient's progress in the acute episode of care through post discharge and is quality driven while being efficient and cost effective. The incumbent interacts with patients, family members, healthcare professionals, and community and state agencies in this effort. The Care Manager / Social Worker serves as a liaison between the hospital and community agencies or facilities for the exchange of clinical and referral information. The Social Worker (Discharge Planning) reviews high risk adult patients from a psychosocial and medical perspective and assesses the psychological needs of patients and families and provides information, support, counseling, care management, and referrals to appropriate resources.

The Social Worker and RN Care Manager work collaboratively to ensure patient needs are met and care delivery is coordinated across the continuum. The expertise of the MSW is sought to resolve psychosocial patient care issues and to develop complex patient transition / discharge plan as needed. Will work in an acute care hospital setting, supporting patients and caregivers in the emergency department, critical care, and inpatient setting.

The Social Worker is responsible for maintaining hospital compliance with the Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) series provides case review to third party payers and assisting in the denial and appeals process as well as assessing quality, levels of care and identifying and reporting potential risk management issues. The incumbent performs duties and tasks in accordance with performance standards established for the job. The incumbent may have access to highly confidential patient, employee and / or Northern Light proprietary information, and must handle & protect the information in accordance with hospital & system policies, HIPAA requirements and the highest level of ethical standards. The incumbent is responsible for reporting all security events, potential events, or other security risks to the organization.

This position is full-time, Monday - Friday. Employees are required to have flexibility to work any of our 8-hour shift schedules during our normal business hours of 8:00 am - 4:30 pm. Our office is located at 489 State Street, Bangor, ME, 04401.

We offer 4 weeks of paid training during normal business hours.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Interacts with patients, family members, healthcare professionals, community and state agencies for adults in a hospital setting.
• Serves as a liaison between the hospital and community agencies or facilities for the exchange of clinical and referral information.
• Reviews high risk patients from a psychosocial and medical perspective and assesses the psychological needs of patients and families and provides information, support, , care management, and referrals to appropriate resources.
• The Social Worker and RN Care Manager work collaboratively to ensure patient needs are met and care delivery is coordinated across the continuum.
• Their expertise is sought to resolve psychosocial patient care issues and to develop complex patient transition / discharge plan as needed.
• Performs duties and tasks in accordance with performance standards established for the job.
• May have access to highly confidential patient, employee and / or Northern Light organizations proprietary information and must handle & protect the information in accordance with hospital & system policies, HIPAA requirements and the highest level of ethical standards.
• Responsible for reporting all security events, potential events, or other security risks to the organization.
• Works in conjunction with physicians, nurses, Care Management Team and others to assess, plan and initiate patient plan of care
• Reviews patient charts.
• Provides assessment and social services to patients and their families in relation to social, psychological, financial, and family situations which will allow timely discharge facilitation.
• Obtains, interprets, and communicates necessary information regarding patients and families, including social history information, to staff and physicians.
• Attends Multi-Disciplinary Rounds, daily, per unit schedule.
• Meets with patients and families to provide psychosocial support as needed.
• Facilitates and coordinates details of placement and discharge to appropriate agencies.
• Discusses nursing, psychosocial needs and medical information with facilities.
• Provides and updates referrals to facilities through online / software discharge planning tools.
• Reviews and completes all appropriate information accompanying patient facility.
• Acts as a liaison between hospital and those facilities should discharged patients be hospitalized.
• Assists in arranging time and mode of transportation to facilities for patients.
• Facilitates and coordinates individualized discharge plan.
• Arranges and participates in care conferences with unit staff, home care staff, facility staff, patients and / or families.
• Provides adequate avenues of communication through on - going documentation in Cerner systems and telephone/verbal reporting or electronic tools.
• Coordinates and communicates with home care agencies regarding expected standards of care for requested specific treatments and psychosocial needs.
• Assists patients and families with obtaining community assistance by referral to proper resources.
• Serves as a resource to physician and hospital personnel regarding available agency, facility, and community services to assist in discharge planning.
• Develops and maintains good working relationships with outside community health and social agencies. Reaches out to the community to develop new resources for meeting patient needs.
• Discusses specific continuing care needs with physicians and hospital personnel on a regular basis.
• Arranges and participates in care conference.
• Discusses on - going continuing care needs of patients with multidisciplinary team daily.
• Completes appropriate State of Maine forms.
• Monitors the completion of the MEDEXX by Maximus for all first time Medicaid transfers to nursing facilities.
• Alerts Maximus to complete MEDEXX on Medicaid patients with expired bed holds.
• Alerts Maximus to complete MEDEXX on Medicaid patients with need for community programs.
• Monitors the completion of the MEDEXX by Maximus for all first time Medicaid transfers to nursing facilities Maximus rather than Maximus.
• Alerts Maximus to complete The MEDEXX on Medicaid patients with expired bed holds Maximus rather than Maximus.
• Alerts Maximus to complete The MEDEXX on Medicaid patients with need for community programs Maximus rather than Maximus.

Medical Record Review:

• Assumes integrated Care Management responsibilities when applicable.

Reporting:

• Documents in appropriate electronic system by the close of business each day.
• Consults with leadership as necessary to resolve barriers through appropriate administrative and medical channels.

You'll be rewarded and recognized for your performance in an environment that will challenge you and give you clear direction on what it takes to succeed in your role as well as provide development for other roles you may be interested in.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree
• Active licensed Social Worker in the State of Maine
• Must be 18 years of age OR older
• 1+ year of social work experience
• Ability to work onsite at 489 State Street, Bangor, ME, 04401
• Ability to work Monday - Friday, between 08:00 AM - 4:30 PM
• Full Flu vaccination are an essential job function of this role. Candidates located in states that mandate Flu booster doses must also comply with those state requirements. UnitedHealth Group will adhere to all federal, state and local regulations as well as all client requirements and will obtain necessary proof of vaccination, and boosters when applicable, prior to employment to ensure compliance. Candidates must be able to perform all essential job functions with or without reasonable accommodation

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's Degree in Social Work (MSW)
• 6+ months of clinical experience as a Social Worker in an extended care facility, community healthcare, OR acute care setting
• Proficient experience with Microsoft Office (Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Outlook)
• Experience with Cerner

Soft Skills:

• Critical Thinking skills
• Excellent written and oral skills
• Identifies challenges and problem solves with key stakeholders to reach solutions that meet the needs of customers
• Drive to consistently meet objectives and maintain focus
• Self - directed with proven organizational skills and ability to be flexible and work with ambiguity
• Ability to execute on identified deliverables either directly or influencing and driving internal and external partners
• Resourcefulness - ability to procure detailed data and information
• Detail - oriented and ability to identify potential risk or problems and recommend path to resolution
• Comfortable with escalating barriers and needs to leadership
• Ability to remain autonomous

The salary range for this role is $49,300 to $96,400 annually based on full-time employment. Pay is based on several factors including but not limited to local labor markets, education, work experience, certifications, etc. UnitedHealth Group complies with all minimum wage laws as applicable. In addition to your salary, UnitedHealth Group offers benefits such as a comprehensive benefits package, incentive and recognition programs, equity stock purchase and 401k contribution (all benefits are subject to eligibility requirements). No matter where or when you begin a career with UnitedHealth Group, you'll find a far-reaching choice of benefits and incentives.