Barbara Dodson
Knoxville,TN
Summary
Medical social work professional with proven track record in providing compassionate and effective support to patients and families. Leveraged experience to implement care plans that address both medical and psychosocial needs. Known for strong collaboration with healthcare teams and adaptability to changing circumstances, ensuring optimal patient care and support.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
Work History
Medical Social Worker
Amedysis Hospice
01.2023 - Current
- Assist the patient and family with health related financial, social and emotional concerns and assists with effective coping skills.
- Provides social work services in accordance with the plan of care.
- Ensures that changes in the patient's clinical status are communicated to other healthcare team members and the care center office staff in a timely manner.
- Educates the patient and family members and other team members on medical social work interventions and treatment plans.
- Performs care planning, transfer, and discharge functions.
- Identifies risks or threats to the patient's health in the patient's environment and promptly implements appropriate interventions to reduce risks. Communicates identification of risks/ threats to the patient to the physician and other members of the healthcare team to coordinate care effectively.
- Managed approximately 20 or more incoming calls, emails, and faxes of per day, while making necessary home visits.
Social Worker
NHC Healthcare
08.2021 - 12.2022
- Patient interaction
- Behavioral intervention
- Psychosocial management
- Family Interaction
- Meet with families to address concerns/issues, or problems
- Discuss hospice needs and preference with families
- Administrative/Documentation
- Document patient’s notes, care plans, mental changes, behaviors, etc.
- Completed admission, quarterly, discharge, and change of status assessments
- Facilitate transportation for all patients to and from appointments
- Develop and implement a safe discharge plan for residents
- Ensure medical equipment is ordered, home health is in place, and scheduled necessary medical appointments
- Facilitated client assessments to identify needs and develop tailored care plans.
- Advocated for patients' rights and access to resources within healthcare systems.
Memory Care Director
Westmoreland Health & Rehabilitation
09.2020 - 08.2021
- Managed staffing & department day-to-day operations for 3 to 5 staff members.
- Primary liaison between staff, patients, and patient families.
- Led interdisciplinary team in developing individualized care plans for residents with memory impairments.
- Coordinated family engagement initiatives to enhance resident support and community involvement.
- Oversaw compliance with state regulations and quality standards for memory care services.
- Maintained a safe environment for residents by conducting regular safety audits and implementing necessary improvements.
Director of Social Services
Summitview of Farragut Nursing Facility
03.2019 - 09.2020
- Plan, organize, develop, direct, and execute overall operations of the facilities social service department
- Ensure that the medically related emotional & social needs of the residents are met
- Develop and implement a safe discharge plan for our patients receiving skilled care.
- Ensure medical equipment is ordered, home health is in place, and scheduled necessary medical appointments
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to develop individualized care plans for residents' emotional and psychological needs.
- Referred families to shelters, legal resources, and educational programs.
- Oversaw compliance with federal, state, and local regulations, ensuring all programs operated within legal frameworks.
Disability Coordinator
The WellFund
02.2017 - 02.2019
- Coordinate the application process for uninsured, disabled patients of University of Tennessee Medical Center who would like to apply for Social Security Disability.
- Advocate for the patient to Social Security and ensure the application is being processed.
- Provide case management services throughout entire process
- Coordinated disability service programs to enhance accessibility and support for clients.
- Collaborated with healthcare professionals to assess client needs and provide tailored solutions.
- Assessed individuals'' eligibility for disability services based on medical documentation, ensuring appropriate support was provided.
Social Services Supervisor
State of Washington Dept. of Social & Health Services
03.2011 - 07.2016
- Manage a unit of 8 social workers and 2 nurses who assess functionally disabled and older adults.
- Ensure staff members are performing assessments according to departmental standards. Organize and direct the work of staff, advice staff on appropriate assessment and intervention techniques, community and residential resources and caseload management.
Social Worker
State of Washington Dept. of Social & Health Services
05.2008 - 03.2011
- Provide intensive & expert social services to a population of high risk, disabled and frail adults
- Conducting comprehensive assessments in the applicants homes
- Developing ongoing care plans.
- Facilitated client assessments to identify needs and develop tailored care plans.
- Advocated for patients' rights and access to resources within healthcare systems.
- Mentored junior staff in crisis intervention techniques and conflict resolution strategies.
- Interviewed clients, families, or groups to assess situations, limitations and issues and implement services to address needs.
- Supported clients and families with empathy and compassion during difficult times.
Education
Cares Dementia Specialist (C.D.S.) -
HealthCare Interactive
11.2020
Master of Education - K-12
Tusculum College
Greenville, TN05.2001
Bachelor of Science - Family Studies
Univ. of TN
Knoxville, TN12.1997
Skills
- Healthcare navigation
- Clinical documentation
- Critical thinking
- Self-harm prevention
- Home visitation
- Assessing needs
- Interdisciplinary coordination
- Networking with staff
- Multicultural competence
- Rehabilitation services
- Discharge planning
- Psychosocial assessment
Timeline
Medical Social Worker
Amedysis Hospice
01.2023 - Current
Social Worker
NHC Healthcare
08.2021 - 12.2022
Memory Care Director
Westmoreland Health & Rehabilitation
09.2020 - 08.2021
Director of Social Services
Summitview of Farragut Nursing Facility
03.2019 - 09.2020
Disability Coordinator
The WellFund
02.2017 - 02.2019
Social Services Supervisor
State of Washington Dept. of Social & Health Services
03.2011 - 07.2016
Social Worker
State of Washington Dept. of Social & Health Services
05.2008 - 03.2011
Cares Dementia Specialist (C.D.S.) -
HealthCare Interactive
Master of Education - K-12
Tusculum College
Bachelor of Science - Family Studies
Univ. of TN