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Medical Social Worker
Medical Social Workers are graduates of schools of social work with a
master's degree, and who use their knowledge and skills to provide social
services for clients/patients (who may be individuals, families, groups,
communities, organizations, or the society in general). Social workers help
people increase their capacities for problem solving and coping, and they help
them obtain needed resources, facilitate interactions between individuals and
between people and their environments.
The social worker practice includes rehabilitating those who social functioning
has been impaired. i.e. Cancer patients often may feel isolated and lonely
because their family and friends may stay away and even stop telephoning because
they can't deal with their cancer. The social worker can help reduce the
feelings of isolation through support groups, and helping clients/patients to
know other people who are facing the same things they are.
The activities of social workers are helping people become more self-sufficient;
preventing dependency; strengthening family relationships; and restoring
individuals, families, and groups to successful social functioning. Social
services include helping people obtain adequate financial resources for their
needs, evaluating the capabilities of people to care for themselves, for
children, or other dependents, counseling and psychotherapy, referral and
channeling, mediation, advocating for social causes, informing organizations of
their obligations to individuals, facilitating health care provisions, and
linking clients/patients to resources.
Medical Social Workers provide social group work, in which small numbers of
people who share similar interests or common problems convene regularly and
engage in activities designed to achieve certain objectives. In contrast to
group psychotherapy, the goals of group work are not necessarily the treatment
of emotional problems. The objectives include exchanging information,
facilitating support for clients/patients, helping them deal with their problems
and education to improve the quality of life.
The following services are provided by Medical Social Workers:
Supportive Counseling for Patients/Families/Partners
• Life Altering Diagnosis
• Grief Counseling
• Chemical Dependency Counseling and Resources
Psychosocial Assessment for Planning and Team Consult
• Mental Status Examination
• Collaboration with MD's; Geriatric/Oncology/Nephrology Specialists, case
managers, and other team members
Long and Short Term Care Planning
• Assessment of Home and Support System
• Anticipation of Future Care and Support Needs
• Board and Care/SNF/ Residential Community Consult
• Residential and Home Hospice Options
• Home Health Options
Elder/Spousal/Child/Dependent Abuse
• Legal Reporting
• Counseling
• Safety, housing and support planning
Complex Financial/Benefit Counseling and Assistance
• Short and Long term disability (Private, State and Federally Funded)
• Medi-cal
• Medicare
• Para-Transit
• Pharmaceutical-Funding Assistance Program
• Alternate Funding Sources (ie:Ryan White Funded)
Kaiser Benefits, Coverage and Special Programs Counseling
• Medical Financial Assistance
• Senior Advantage
• Personal Advantage
Legal Issues
• Durable and Legal Power of Attorney
• Conservatorship (Civil and Psych.)
• Public Guardianship
• Legal Referral (Private and Community Based)
• Immigration issues |
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