Aimee Hoch Msw, Lsw, Osw-C, Faccc Email & Phone Number

Philadelphia, Pa, Us

As an Oncology Social Worker, I held peoples’ hands as they dealt with the often shocking blow of a cancer diagnosis. And while they were understandably distressed by the physical aspect of the disease, I saw that for many patients, the physical strain was compounded by emotional stress over how to pay for their treatments or even their household bills.Over time I researched and collated data on the need for an Oncology Financial Navigator to alleviate the financial toxicity for cancer patients so they were freer to focus on healing. As an intrapreneur eager to develop ever more meaningful roles within my organization, I presented the need for this position, advocated for it, and am privileged to be serving as Grand View Health’s first Oncology Financial Navigator.Upon diagnosis, I meet with adult oncology patients and their families during an interdisciplinary meeting to learn about their needs and situation, establishing a trusting relationship that allows me to assess and assist them. I am their first point of contact for their medical insurance, and provide financial counseling and services through education on coverage and out-of-pocket costs, connection with appropriate resources, and identification of any barriers they may have to accessing care.My role involves close collaboration with the patient’s medical team so that all involved are aware of the financial impact of treatment options. I participate in weekly multi-disciplinary case reviews, and am a member of both the Cancer Committee and Multi-Disciplinary Breast Cancer Program.By following up on insurance issues, monitoring the patient’s financial health, and working with them to ensure strategic access to resources, I help cancer patients alleviate financial stress so they can focus on survivorship and healing.

Sellersville, Pa

As Oncology Social Worker, I worked with patients and families dealing with a cancer diagnosis to assess their needs, provide education and support, and connect them with community resources to help them manage their care and well-being as they undergo treatment and navigate their lives as cancer survivors.I identified the need for this role as well while I was working in my previous position at GVH, collecting data to establish its necessity via the hospital’s distress management tool. I advocated for the creation of the role and educated myself on resources for cancer patients and survivors so that when GVH established the position I was ready to apply for it.As Grand View Health’s first Oncology Social Worker, I developed the role from the ground up, and have seen the difference it makes in the lives of cancer patients and their families.I leveraged the distress screenings completed by patients to assess their psycho-social needs and the level of distress brought on by their diagnosis, then collaborated with a multi-disciplinary team to provide the appropriate support and services.I also served as Coordinator of Distress Management Program for Oncology Patients, and a member of the Cancer Committee and Breast Care Committee to foster the multi-disciplinary coordination and collaboration so crucial to this role. Continuing to evolve the position for greater scope and efficacy, I developed an internal program to provide gas and grocery assistance for patients, as well as the Survivorship Circle Monthly Support Group which I co-facilitated. Most recently, I was instrumental in partnering with Unite for HER, an organization that provides holistic services to breast cancer survivors. This partnership now gives access to integrative services like yoga, acupuncture, massage, nutritional consultation, and therapy to the breast cancer survivors in our cancer program.

Sellersville, Pa

I began my career at Grand View Hospital in 2004; my progression through successive positions to take on new and different responsibilities and advocate for the development of innovative roles in response to patient needs has given me broad and valuable experience in patient support and advocacy.Starting as a social worker and case manager, I focused on discharge planning, ensuring patients were prepared to go home or transfer to another level of care. I served as a member of GVH Speaker’s Bureau, helped develop the Childhood Obesity Program, co-coordinated a weekly lifestyle group called the Grand New You Program, and supervised and mentored several BSW and MSW Social Work students.As Department of Emergency Medicine Case Manager, I assessed the psycho-social needs of patients arriving at the ER so I could connect them with appropriate resources in the community. I consulted on many high-risk situations involving adults, children, and families, providing education on available resources. I also assessed level of care needs, working closely with physicians and a multi-disciplinary team to see if patients met the criteria for admission to hospital, and coordinated discharge from the ER to home or another facility.This was a new role for the ER, and I was one of the first people to serve in it. I helped to develop the position, which in addition to including tracking of hospital admissions from the ER and completion of Utilization Management Assessments for all Medicare patients, also addressed the social needs of patients.I assessed patients’ financial needs, housing situations, whether they had support at home, and what factors might contribute to their usage of the ER, like lack of access to medication or a primary care physician. In this role, I began to identify the need for an Oncology Social Worker, and gathered data that would result in the creation of the position I moved into next at GVH.

East Brunswick, Nj

In my 12-year career at Easter Seals I held many positions, starting as a case manager for the homeless mentally ill, and working my way up to oversee all programs in multiple counties. As a case manager I dealt with many high-risk and crisis situations, working to help support those with mental illness so they could stay in their community and avoid mental health hospitalization. Moving into a leadership position as Director of Outreach Services, I supervised program staff and oversaw our countywide case management program, conducting all initial intake assessments, facilitating family meetings and community groups, and providing ongoing clinical supervision for ~200 mentally ill clients. This role also provided me valuable administrative experience as I managed the program budget, handled billing, and spearheaded our grant writing initiatives. I honed my skills in multi-disciplinary collaboration as well, providing clinical support to other case management programs throughout state and coordinating with county and state Mental Health Administrators. When I took on the role of Director of Quality Improvement, I focused on developing and presenting clinical and practical training for staff in our statewide behavioral health program. In collaboration with service line leadership I also proposed and implemented initiatives to improve the quality of our service and our ability to measure results. I conducted case reviews of high-risk clients to support our staff in determining best practice intervention, and addressed procedural issues by creating and revising agency policies. What I loved most about my work at Easter Seals was leveraging my leadership to help our staff reach the lives of more and more clients. Through training, team development, and optimizing program policy, I helped maximize our impact and ability to make a difference in peoples’ lives.

Msw, Master’S Of Social Work, Clinical Social Work

While earning my Master’s at Fordham I worked at both Easter Seals and Grand View Health; I was a full-time mom to one small child as well.

Bachelor Of Science - Bs, Clinical Psychology

While earning my Bachelor’s at Stroudsburg I worked at Easter Seals New Jersey as a teen mentor.