Rebecca J. Wirth is a social worker with over 10 years of experience in hospital and community settings. She has worked with diverse populations facing psychosocial, mental, and physical health challenges. Her experience includes oncology social work at Sarah Cannon Cancer Center and hospice social work at Gentiva Hospice. For over 8 years, she worked as an inpatient, outpatient, and home-based primary care social worker at the Dwight D. Eisenhower VA Medical Center. She holds a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Kansas and a Bachelor of Social Work degree from Kansas State University.
Person Centered Care through Integrating a Palliative Approach: Lessons from ...BCCPA
Aging adults are entering residential care facilities with more advanced disease than in the past and their length of stay is shorter. Most health care providers in these facilities do not receive targeted education and training in palliative care, nor are they confident to have crucial conversations about goals of care and end of life challenges with residents and their families. Due to limited capacity to manage predictable symptoms related to end of life and insufficient planning, many residents are transferred to hospital in crisis and die in the Emergency Department or acute care wards.
This presentation will showcase some of the initiatives by identifying common themes, unique features of each and strategies for success. Opportunity will be given for delegates to ask questions and brainstorm how lessons learned from these initiatives could inform the care provided at their own facility.
Presented by:
- Jane Webley, RN LLB Regional lead, End of Life, Vancouver Coastal Health (EPAIRS and the Daisy project)
- Dr Christine Jones, Island Health (SSC project: Improving end of life outcomes in residential care facilities: A palliative approach to care)
- Kathleen Yue, RN, BSN, MN, CHPCN (c) Education Coordinator, BC Center for Palliative Care
Health Care Consent, Aging and Dementia: Mapping Law and Practice in BCBCCPA
In October 2016, the Canadian Centre for Elder Law working with ASBC started a 16 month project on the law and practice around health care consent in BC with a focus on older adults and adults with dementia. This project will address issues around health care consent with a focus on older adults and adults with dementia. Along with addressing the legal framework surrounding health care consent it will highlighted related issues such as polypharmacy, etc.
Presented by:
- Krista James, National Director, Canadian Centre for Elder Law
- Alison Leaney, Provincial Coordinator, Vulnerable Adults Community Response, Public Guardian and Trustee
- Barbara Lindsay, Director, Advocacy and Education
Is Home Really Best? Private Home Care Agencies and Technology Can Make Home ...BCCPA
This presentation is about how technology can increase family involvement in person-centred care planning in home care. The Conference will be the first time the results from this UBC Masters Research project will be presented.
In a 2017 UBC survey of home care agencies in greater Vancouver the study aimed to determine
1) what are these home care agencies challenges in providing quality person centred care to their clients
2) home care agencies perceived benefits and barriers in using health information technologies.
Survey findings will help both public and private care providers understand how to better collaborate in caring for aging seniors.
Presented by: Christina Chiu, CEO, CareCrew, MHA Candidate
Person Centered Care through Integrating a Palliative Approach: Lessons from ...BCCPA
Aging adults are entering residential care facilities with more advanced disease than in the past and their length of stay is shorter. Most health care providers in these facilities do not receive targeted education and training in palliative care, nor are they confident to have crucial conversations about goals of care and end of life challenges with residents and their families. Due to limited capacity to manage predictable symptoms related to end of life and insufficient planning, many residents are transferred to hospital in crisis and die in the Emergency Department or acute care wards.
This presentation will showcase some of the initiatives by identifying common themes, unique features of each and strategies for success. Opportunity will be given for delegates to ask questions and brainstorm how lessons learned from these initiatives could inform the care provided at their own facility.
Presented by:
- Jane Webley, RN LLB Regional lead, End of Life, Vancouver Coastal Health (EPAIRS and the Daisy project)
- Dr Christine Jones, Island Health (SSC project: Improving end of life outcomes in residential care facilities: A palliative approach to care)
- Kathleen Yue, RN, BSN, MN, CHPCN (c) Education Coordinator, BC Center for Palliative Care
Health Care Consent, Aging and Dementia: Mapping Law and Practice in BCBCCPA
In October 2016, the Canadian Centre for Elder Law working with ASBC started a 16 month project on the law and practice around health care consent in BC with a focus on older adults and adults with dementia. This project will address issues around health care consent with a focus on older adults and adults with dementia. Along with addressing the legal framework surrounding health care consent it will highlighted related issues such as polypharmacy, etc.
Presented by:
- Krista James, National Director, Canadian Centre for Elder Law
- Alison Leaney, Provincial Coordinator, Vulnerable Adults Community Response, Public Guardian and Trustee
- Barbara Lindsay, Director, Advocacy and Education
Is Home Really Best? Private Home Care Agencies and Technology Can Make Home ...BCCPA
This presentation is about how technology can increase family involvement in person-centred care planning in home care. The Conference will be the first time the results from this UBC Masters Research project will be presented.
In a 2017 UBC survey of home care agencies in greater Vancouver the study aimed to determine
1) what are these home care agencies challenges in providing quality person centred care to their clients
2) home care agencies perceived benefits and barriers in using health information technologies.
Survey findings will help both public and private care providers understand how to better collaborate in caring for aging seniors.
Presented by: Christina Chiu, CEO, CareCrew, MHA Candidate
Dementia Support Group (In-person): Draft Approach/ Guidance Document Swapna Kishore
This detailed draft document for persons who may want to set up an in-person support group.Caregivers need support, and one very important mechanism is a support group where caregivers can meet and talk face-to-face (an in-person support group), or they can discuss a topic with an invited expert, or learn some important skill. This detailed draft document is intended for persons who may want to set up an in-person support group. Feedback/ comments may be sent to cyber.swapnakishore@gmail.com
My main objective is to address how; urban poverty, hunger, gentrification, lack of attention to disease prevention, malnourishment, food deserts, lack of green-spaces and other social-environmental health issues play a direct role in the long and short term mental and physical health of individuals and families.
Enhancing Efficiency and Best Outcomes in Community Care: CBI’s Transitional ...BCCPA
In October 2016, CBI opened its first transitional and residential care in Burnaby, BC. Led by a multidisciplinary team that includes nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, social workers, speech therapists, dieticians, behavioural interventionists and personal support workers, the facility provides specialized health care to support patients leaving hospital who are not yet able to return to their own home. This unique service also decreases hospital length-of-stay, admission and readmission to the hospital and wait times in emergency rooms. Join us and learn more about how our Transitional Care model helped patients, hospitals and funders to achieve excellent health and financial outcomes.
Presented by: Poonam Jassi, Director of Operations BC, CBI Health Group
Family health care settings home visit (Unit - VI)Atul Yadav
This presentation contains :-
1. Introduction to home visit
2. Definition of home visit
3. Purpose of home visit
4. Principle of home visiting
5. Purpose of home visiting
6. Advantage of home visiting
7. Planning and evaluation of home visiting
8. Bag technique
9. Community bag
10. Clinics in community
11. Health guides
12. Function of health guides
13. Trained dais
14. Function of trained dais
15. Anganwadi worker
16. Sub center
17. Function of sub-center
18. Primary health center
19. Function of primary health center
20. Community health centers
21. Function of community health center
Dementia Support Group (In-person): Draft Approach/ Guidance Document Swapna Kishore
This detailed draft document for persons who may want to set up an in-person support group.Caregivers need support, and one very important mechanism is a support group where caregivers can meet and talk face-to-face (an in-person support group), or they can discuss a topic with an invited expert, or learn some important skill. This detailed draft document is intended for persons who may want to set up an in-person support group. Feedback/ comments may be sent to cyber.swapnakishore@gmail.com
My main objective is to address how; urban poverty, hunger, gentrification, lack of attention to disease prevention, malnourishment, food deserts, lack of green-spaces and other social-environmental health issues play a direct role in the long and short term mental and physical health of individuals and families.
Enhancing Efficiency and Best Outcomes in Community Care: CBI’s Transitional ...BCCPA
In October 2016, CBI opened its first transitional and residential care in Burnaby, BC. Led by a multidisciplinary team that includes nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, social workers, speech therapists, dieticians, behavioural interventionists and personal support workers, the facility provides specialized health care to support patients leaving hospital who are not yet able to return to their own home. This unique service also decreases hospital length-of-stay, admission and readmission to the hospital and wait times in emergency rooms. Join us and learn more about how our Transitional Care model helped patients, hospitals and funders to achieve excellent health and financial outcomes.
Presented by: Poonam Jassi, Director of Operations BC, CBI Health Group
Family health care settings home visit (Unit - VI)Atul Yadav
This presentation contains :-
1. Introduction to home visit
2. Definition of home visit
3. Purpose of home visit
4. Principle of home visiting
5. Purpose of home visiting
6. Advantage of home visiting
7. Planning and evaluation of home visiting
8. Bag technique
9. Community bag
10. Clinics in community
11. Health guides
12. Function of health guides
13. Trained dais
14. Function of trained dais
15. Anganwadi worker
16. Sub center
17. Function of sub-center
18. Primary health center
19. Function of primary health center
20. Community health centers
21. Function of community health center
1. Rebecca J. Wirth, LMSW
1200 S State Rt. 7 F201 Blue Springs, Missouri 64014 Cell Phone: (816) 812-9487 E-Mail: rjwirth65@gmail.com
Objective
Seasoned social worker bringing over 10 years of experience in hospital and community social work services to
individuals with diverse ethnic, cultural and socio-economic backgrounds, who are faced with a variety of psycho-
social, mental and physical health challenges.
Experience
Sarah Cannon Cancer Center 09/2014 – 08/2015
Title: Oncology Social Worker, full-time 40 hours per week
Sarah Cannon Cancer Center at Research Medical Center (816) 278-4000
Starting Salary: $27.50 per hour
• Conducted initial assessment and screening of all new oncology patients.
• Addressed psychological, social, spiritual and financial impact with individuals and families.
• Provided oncology-related support services, grief counseling, therapeutic support and crisis intervention.
• Provided referral and access to financial assistance, legal aid, community resources and social support services.
• Counseled individuals and families about psychosocial impact of coping with illness and navigating.
• Developed, revised, implemented and coordinated patient-centered and person-centered treatment plans.
• Produced and maintained records and reports with attention to privacy and compliance.
• Provided social work report in weekly cancer conferences for pancreatic cancer, breast cancer and lung cancer.
• Provided education to staff regarding palliative care and hospice services.
• Facilitated strong partnerships with community hospice agencies and a variety of support service agencies.
• Developed a psychosocial distress screening tool to recognize and measure psychosocial distress at all stages
of care to quantify needs and interventions, while adjusting care to meet patient needs and preferences.
• Organized quarterly community service project with the American Cancer Society for Sarah Cannon staff.
• Co-chair of the Sarah Cannon Cancer Center – Research Medical Center Palliative Care Team.
• Member of the Cancer Committee at Sarah Cannon Cancer Center - Research Medical Center.
Gentiva Hospice, Independence, Missouri 03/2014-7/2014
Title: Hospice Social Worker, full-time 40 hours per week
Gentiva Hospice (816) 795-1333
Starting Salary: $52,000 40 hrs. per week
Ending Salary: $52,000 40 hrs. per week
Reason for Separation: Reduction in Force
• Conducted comprehensive psychosocial assessment of individual and caregiver.
• Provided education and counseling around life closure and end of life planning.
• Facilitated discussion between individual and family as needed to ensure issues affecting well-being and life
closure are addressed.
• Conducted life review with individual and family.
• Practiced compassionate presence during all interactions with individuals and families.
• Provided resource referral and assist in coordination of community programs and services.
• Collaborated with team members regularly and provide report during team meetings.
• Ensure documentation is completed in a timely and accurate manner in accordance with Medicare and agency
requirements.
• Provided on-call psychosocial support to hospice team members, individuals and family members.
• Provided continuous care at individual's bedside during dying process as needed.
2. Dwight D. Eisenhower VA Medical Center, Leavenworth, Kansas 08/2005 – 11/2013
Title: Inpatient, Outpatient, Home-based Primary Care Social Worker, full-time 40 hours per week
Supervisor: Amy Morrow, Chief of Social Work (913) 682-2000
Starting Salary: $45,000
Ending Salary: $68,000
Reason for Separation: Explore social work opportunities in community hospice
• Demonstrated competency in a variety of positions over eight years to include Outpatient Social Worker,
Home-based Primary Care Social Worker, Transplant Social Worker and Inpatient Social Worker.
• Provided intervention to individuals coping with chronic and acute medical and psychiatric conditions,
homelessness, substance dependence and military sexual trauma.
• Conducted strengths-based and culturally competent assessments to provide evidenced-based interventions
that respect individual values and preferences.
• Developed treatment plans with the individual and family to reflect person-centered care and shared decision-
making.
• Ensured treatment plan and discharge plan complies with accreditation standards and meets performance
measures.
• Educated individuals and families about advance directives and advance disease planning.
• Counseled individuals and families with life-threatening conditions, terminal illness and
chronic illness.
• Responded with crisis intervention to address immediate needs of individuals and families.
• Worked collaboratively with interdisciplinary team on daily basis to ensure efficient inpatient flow and
monitor changes throughout hospitalization, which may impact treatment plan and discharge planning.
• Lead daily interdisciplinary team meetings.
• Facilitated discharge to rehabilitation centers, assisted living facilities, nursing homes and long-term acute care.
• Coordinated discharge to treatment centers, homeless shelters and transitional housing.
• Identified aftercare needs for individuals and caregivers to establish appropriate home and community services.
• Facilitated Hepatitis C support group. MOVE! support group and various psycho-educational groups.
• Provided intensive case management for outpatients in Primary Care and in their home environment with HBPC.
Harry S. Truman VA Medical Center, Columbia, Missouri 11/2003 – 8/2005
Title: Inpatient and Outpatient Social Worker, full-time, 40 hours per week
Supervisor: Virginia Law, Social Work Supervisor (573) 814-6000
Starting Salary: $39,000
Ending Salary: $45,000
Reason for Separation: Transferred to Dwight D. Eisenhower VA for closer proximity to family.
• Conducted comprehensive bio-psychosocial assessments.
• Facilitated a smooth discharge for inpatients by encouraging and reassuring clients throughout their transitions.
• Participated in daily inter-disciplinary team meetings.
• Developed and implemented treatment plans and modified when needed.
• Connected individuals and families with community service and resource agencies.
• Provided comprehensive case management services.
• Provided advance directive education.
• Collaborated with Community Care Program Coordinator to facilitate home services.
• Facilitated discharge to appropriate setting.
• Co-facilitated transplant support group and Hepatitis C support group.
3. Raymond G. Murphy VA Medical Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico 06/2003 - 11/2003
Title: Inpatient Social Worker, full-time, 40 hours per week
Supervisor: David Sena, Chief of Social Work (505) 265-1711
Starting Salary: $39,000
Ending Salary: $39,000
Reason for Separation: Transfer to Harry S. Truman VA for closer proximity to family.
• Tasked as the Inpatient Social Worker for acute care and intensive care units.
• Conducted comprehensive psychosocial assessments and developed treatment plans to include
individual and family.
• Contributed clinical information through the unique lens of social work practice during team
meetings and daily rounds with the medical team.
• Participated in daily inter-disciplinary team meetings.
• Developed and implemented treatment plans and monitored for changes as care plan evolved.
• Referred individuals to community agencies, programs and services.
• Provided comprehensive case management services for inpatients and ensured plan for follow-up.
• Provided advance directive education.
• Collaborated with Community Care Program Coordinator to facilitate home services.
• Facilitated discharge to appropriate aftercare setting.
• Co-facilitated transplant support group and Hepatitis C support group.
• Developed comprehensive orientation for new Medicine residents during their orientation phase to
provide insight into the functional role of the VA social worker on the medical team.
Education
University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 2002-2003 Master of Social Work, Outstanding Practicum Scholar, 2003
Kansas State University, Manhattan, 1999-2002 Bachelor of Social Work, Magna Cum Laude, 2002
Skills
• Extensive experience in medical social work, including palliative care, medical surgical, intensive care,
emergency room and home-based care.
• Expertise in working with a broad population of individuals from diverse backgrounds and lifestyles.
• Seasoned public speaker and event coordinator.
• Ability to manage clinical and administrative tasks with focus on prioritizing during crisis.
• Strong work ethic with excellent professional boundaries.
• Ability to maintain a positive, respectful relationship with co-workers and provide leadership, work
independently or function as effective team member.
• Possess a fun, positive spirit and good sense of humor.
ProfessionalAchievements
• Applied for and received the Hartford Gerorich Grant on Aging through the University of Kansas and
developed Caregiver Support Program for Veteran Caregivers at Colmery O’Neil VA, 2002
• Recipient of the Margo-Shutz Gordon Award for Outstanding Practicum Student, 2003
• Cash Award, 2009 for contribution to Home-based Primary Care Program
• Performance Award, 2008
• Successfully established social work presence in Leavenworth VAMC Outpatient Clinics 2010
• Selected as Chair of Social Work Staff Development Committee, 2011-2013
• Performance Award, 2013