Summary

The Raymond G. Murphy VA Medical Center is seeking a Social Worker for the Spinal Cord Injury/Disorder Clinic. The incumbent is administratively responsible for the New Mexico Veterans Affairs Health Care System Spinal Cord Injury and Disorder program.

Duties

• VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU Develops a system to identify SCI patients served by the facility and community who belong in this special disability group
• This may involve use of the Spinal Cord Dysfunction (SCD) Registry, Patient Treatment File searches, Veterans Health Information System and Technology Architecture (VistA) and Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS) records, SCD reports and/or Classification reports, Patient Data Exchange, Network Health Exchange, and contacts within the community
• Serves as the point of contact for all inquiries regarding the SCI program
• This may include stakeholders (e.g
• Veterans, families, community hospitals and nursing homes, Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) and other Veterans Service Organizations), Spinal Cord Injury and Disorders Strategic Healthcare Group (SCI/D, SHG) and Congressional Inquiries
• Promotes and coordinates annual evaluations within the SCI Center and appropriate SCI Outpatient Clinics
• Develops a procedure for referrals between the SCI Center and local VA and/or community hospitals and facilitates appropriate and timely inter-facility transfers
• The Registry provides a database linked to other VistA files, allowing the SCI Coordinator to track patients admitted and discharged within the medical center, and to review utilization of laboratory, pharmacy, inpatient, and outpatient resources
• Establishes performance standards for the SCI program that promote quality and efficiency in service to the Veterans in coordination with the overall goals of the medical center and national SCI/D program
• Develops policy and procedures to ensure compliance with Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) and other accrediting bodies and regulatory standards, as needed
• Researches community resources (local, state, and national) that are available to provide continuity of care and to enhance the quality of life of the Veteran
• Disseminates information on resources throughout the VISN
• Explores and analyzes long-term care placement options in the community, i.e., assisted living facilities, nursing homes, handicapped accessible housing, and state Veterans' homes
• Identifies unmet needs of the SCI population and works collaboratively with the VHA Office of Geriatrics and Develops a data-driven continuous quality improvement program with established goals and outcomes to evaluate and document the program's effectiveness
• Establishes collaborative relationships with physicians, nurses, and other disciplines to foster their involvement in the care of Veterans with SCI
• Social Work Services Completes psychosocial evaluation and assessment and periodic reassessments of each patient served, which provides a comprehensive social database to identify psychosocial, social, and vocational needs and the appropriate treatment and services to be provided
• Established and maintains therapeutic relationships with SCI Veterans and their families
• Manages and coordinates provision of the following services as appropriate: Activities of Daily Living (AOL)
• Personal Care Attendant (PCA)
• Nutritional Management
• Prosthetic Appliances
• Medical Supplies
• Vocational Rehabilitation
• Leisure and/or Avocational Interest
• Peer Counseling for Families and/or Significant Others
• Transportation and Finances
• Home Evaluations
• Housing Alternatives
• and Identification, Development and Utilization of Community Resources
• Refers Veterans to other organizations and community resources (i.e., housing alternatives, personal care services, transportation resources, etc
• or other VA governmental resources) for services not available from the VHA facility
• Maintains a current, productive network of referral resources to include substance abuse treatment, outpatient medical/psychiatric care, vocational rehabilitation, etc
• and with Veterans Service Organizations, including the Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA)
• Makes home visits to assess the home environment when appropriate to ensure that services are provided that will enable the Veteran to live safely and independently
• Establishes and maintains an ongoing education program for patients, students, and staff
• Specialized Experience: ability to provide independent and quality psychosocial services with Veterans experiencing spinal cord injury disorders providing across a variety of practice settings such as inpatient, outpatient, residential, and community
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 08:00 AM - 04:30 PM Compressed/Flexible: Not Available Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required