What is a Social Worker?
Social workers are found in almost every facet and area of life. A social worker in a medical setting is an allied healthcare professional who helps patients deal with problems and strains of the healthcare process.
Social workers help individuals, families, groups and communities cope with everyday healthcare problems and enhance their individual and collective well-being. Their approach to care is oriented toward solving problems, improving patients’ lives and boosting their capacity of social functioning.
Roles and Responsibilities of Social Workers
It is the role of the social worker in a healthcare setting to:
- Understand the patient’s medical issues that need to be addressed.
- Assess the patient’s social, financial, and support requirements.
- Organize support and make referrals to other services and agencies.
- Help the patient understand the financial and emotional resources available.
- Inform other members of the healthcare team about the factors that affect the patient.
- Work with the patient’s family and other service provider agencies.
- Develop a plan for patient’s care in the home or other living arrangements.
As soon as the plan of care is ready, social workers can help the patient obtain access to health or social services. They can also assist the patient in identifying therapy options or illness support groups that may aid in coping with their illness or injury.
Social workers then connect the patient with the appropriate resources and:
- Coordinate and counsel patients on decision-making and crisis handling.
- Ensure the emotional and social needs are met through medical treatment.
- Play a critical role in patient’s discharge planning, transportation and lodging.
- Coordinate the care of patients that require multiple services over time.
- Help the patient live more successfully with improved wellness.
