1. (a) A facility that provides social work services must retain a social worker licensed under AS 08.95 as an employee or consultant of the facility. The social worker shall

   1. (1) regularly assess the social service needs for each patient, resident, or client, implementing the plan of care to meet those needs, and reevaluating those needs as appropriate;
   2. (2) link each patient, resident, or client and that individual's family with applicable community resources as necessary to assist in meeting ongoing social, emotional, and economic needs;
   3. (3) assist the physician, any interdisciplinary team, and other staff in understanding the social and emotional factors related to the health of each patient, resident, or client;
   4. (4) prepare clinical and progress notes;
   5. (5) participate in in-service training; and
   6. (6) plan, supervise, and delegate any services furnished by a social services specialist as provided in (c) of this section.
2. (b) A facility that provides social work services must identify and provide interventions in response to the medically-related mental, behavioral, psychosocial, and advocacy needs of a patient. Social work services must assist staff, patients, and patients' families to understand and cope with emotional and social problems associated with health care.

3. (c) A social services specialist must have a baccalaureate degree in social work or in a human service field, and at least one year of social work experience in a health care setting. A social services specialist shall act as an assistant to the social worker and shall

   1. (1) perform services delegated by the social worker, in accordance with the plan of care;
   2. (2) assist in preparing clinical progress notes;
   3. (3) participate in the interdisciplinary team meetings; and
   4. (4) participate in in-service training.
4. (d) In this section, "human service field" means sociology, special education, rehabilitation counseling, psychology, or another field related to social work.

(Eff. 11/19/83, Register 88; am 5/28/92, Register 122; am 5/24/2007, Register 182)

Authority: AS 18.05.040, AS 47.32.010, AS 47.32.030