Oncology Social Worker

CommonSpirit Health was formed by the alignment of Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI) and Dignity Health. With more than 700 care sites across the U.S. from clinics and hospitals to home-based care and virtual care services CommonSpirit is accessible to nearly one out of every four U.S. residents. Our world needs compassion like never before. Our communities need caring and our families need protection. With our combined resources CommonSpirit is committed to building healthy communities advocating for those who are poor and vulnerable and innovating how and where healing can happen both inside our hospitals and out in the community.

The Disparities Care Coordinator develops and implements a specific plan to improve coordination of cancer care for African-American and Hispanic patients in Lancaster County/Lincoln.  Improves navigation for identified disparate populations and reduces health disparities in Lancaster County and the surrounding service area.  Develops and manages a tool to track patients and provides staff education on cultural competence.

Essential Job Functions:

1. Serves as a consistent care coordinator throughout the continuum of cancer care assessing the physical, psychosocial and social needs of the patient. Navigation may begin at screening, diagnosis or at other points along the continuum based on the focus of the particular position.
   1. Works with Outreach Coordinator at screening and education events to identify patients in need of further diagnostic work-up.
   2. Works with newly diagnosed cancer patients and facilitates the transition for follow-up care including chemotherapy and radiation therapy within effective and realistic time frames.
   3. Reinforces physician instructions, facilitates patient access to healthcare and community resources, including patient educational materials and psychological counseling.
   4. Maintains relationship with identified patients, based on their patient preference, until treatment is complete and appropriate referral is made to the Cancer Survivorship Navigator or end of life care.
2. Develops/improves systems for tracking patient care from community screening and referrals from primary care practices through the cancer care continuum. Emphasizes race and ethnicity tracking at all points along the continuum to improve care for underserved populations.
   1. Develop a system to monitor timeliness of screening and time to treatment for minorities identified at outreach screening activities.
   2. Collaborates with other team members regarding care of the patient to ensure quality care is met. Refers the patients to other support services, such as nutrition, psychosocial or financial counseling, etc.
   3. Provides follow-up with screened patients to ensure they attend physician appointments, future diagnostics testing, and, if abnormal diagnosis confirmed, referral appointments to specialists identified by their primary care physician.
   4. Answers questions from the patient pertaining to therapy treatment and side effects. Explains purpose and plan of treatment, potential side effects, diet, etc. to patients and families.  Recommends and consults with physician regarding Hospice, Home Health, Social Services, rehabilitation and other patient needs.
3. Educates other staff members as well as target community audiences on cultural competence.
   1. Educates other health professionals in understanding benign and malignant diseases, their treatment and the patient’s emotional and social recovery from the disease.
   2. Plans and implements cancer-related educational programs for individuals and groups on topics of cancer prevention, detection, treatment and strategies in coping with the disease.
   3. Incorporates education on cultural competence and improved race and ethnicity tracking at all points along the healthcare continuum.
4. NCCCP/NCCN (National Community Cancer Center Pilot/Nebraska Cancer Care Network).
   1. Collaborates with other members of the Cancer Institute to fulfill the goals of the NCCCP contract.
   2. Collaborates with other Nurse Navigators/Clinical Nurse Coordinators within the NCCCP group and NCCN group.
   3. Works with the cancer team to meet and exceed the requirements outlined in the NCCP contract.

Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Nursing or Master’s in Social Work required.  Master’s in Nursing preferred.

Licensure:

Must have a valid Nebraska driver’s license and a driving record compatible with the requirements of CHI Health

Experience/Pre-Requisites:

• Three years experience in Oncology care as an RN or Social Worker required.
• Analytical skills necessary to develop and implement effective patient care and problem solving measures for patients’ physical, psychosocial and spiritual well being.
• Ability to use tracking tools/systems to monitor program progress.
• Familiarity with disparate populations within the service area and cultural competence a plus.
• Previous success in a leadership role.
• Excellent communication skills and verbal. Interpersonal and problem-solving skills necessary to interact with physicians, patients and their families as well as the greater community. Communicates verbally and in writing to all levels of personnel, including computer skills.
• Self-starter/self-motivated, capable of staying on track and meeting appointments and deadlines without supervision.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to set priorities manage time efficiently and manage multiple tasks.
• Able to use basic audiovisual technology.
• Ability to work under pressure, meet deadlines and handle multiple projects simultaneously.
• Knowledge of principles of adult education.
• Maintains a positive attitude and able to work through conflict win a constructive manner.
• Able to transport self independently to required locations.