What does a Medical Social Worker do?

Medical Social Workers ensure patients’ emotional, financial and social needs are met during and after hospital admissions. They help Physicians, Nurses and other care team members understand patients’ beliefs, values and preferences. By performing discharge and crisis intervention counseling and providing referrals and resources to patients,

Medical Social Workers allow for a continuation of care that enables patients to recuperate in safe, comfortable environments. As a result, Medical Social Workers may contribute to patient satisfaction rates and patient care outcomes when completing the duties in a hospital social work job description.

Medical Social Worker skills and qualifications

Establishing the following qualifications in your Medical Social Worker job description may help you attract quality candidates:

• In-depth understanding of counseling methods, psychology and sociology

• Basic knowledge of medical terms regarding common medical conditions and their treatments

• Social perceptiveness to interpret patients’ behaviors and reactions

• Interpersonal skills to build relationships with medical providers, patients and their families

• Organizational and recordkeeping skills to manage information for multiple patients

• Active listening and communication skills to facilitate productive conversations with the care team and patients

• Problem-solving skills to find solutions to financial, social and emotional issues patients may face

• Computer skills to utilize patient records management, email, calendars, word processing and other software programs

Medical Social Worker experience requirements

During their training programs, most Medical Social Workers complete a Medical Social Worker internship that involves working with patients in a hospital setting. A degree in social work may substitute for professional experience. However, you might request several years of work history in your medical social work job description if your new hire will be the sole Social Worker at your facility or responsible for supervising other Healthcare Social Workers or students.

Medical Social Worker education and training requirements

Generally, a master’s degree in social work is a common requirement for Medical Social Workers. In addition, Healthcare Social Workers typically need a state-issued license to work independently. Licensing requirements vary by state but usually involve completing a state-approved degree program and passing a written examination.

Some Medical Social Workers pursue Certified Social Worker in Health Care (C-SWHC) certification from the National Association of Social Workers (NASW). You can include this voluntary certification as a preferred or mandatory qualification in your hospital social work job description.

Job description samples for similar positions

If this Medical Social Worker job description isn’t exactly what you’re looking for, consider these related job titles:

• Community Health Worker

• Licensed Clinical Social Worker

• Nurse Case Manager

• Patient Care Coordinator

Medical Social Worker job description FAQs

What’s the difference between a Medical Social Worker and a Nurse Case Manager?

Both Medical Social Workers and Nurse Case Managers advocate for patients. A Nurse Case Manager is a Registered Nurse (RN) who helps Medical Providers coordinate care for complex cases and develop treatment plans. Medical Social Workers ensure all care team members understand patients’ emotional and social needs.

What’s the difference between a Medical Social Worker and a Community Health Worker?

Medical Social Workers and Community Health Workers connect patients with resources and programs. However, Medical Social Workers can provide counseling services. Community Health Workers may listen to patients’ concerns and provide advice, but they don’t perform counseling.

What’s the difference between a Medical Social Worker and a Patient Care Coordinator?

Patient Care Coordinators schedule appointments and keep patients with complex medical issues organized while they receive inpatient and outpatient care. Medical Social Workers work primarily with inpatients, providing counseling services that Patient Care Providers usually can’t offer.