Health

People with medical illnesses often have related problems. They may need help re-establishing their routines once they arrive home from the hospital or they may have trouble paying their bills. Families who lose a loved one may need counseling to process their grief, and those with hereditary conditions may need help sorting through their fears and concerns about the future.

Social workers play a key role in all of these health-related areas and more. In fact, a large percentage of the nation’s social workers work in medical settings—20% practice in hospitals, for example, and 12% in medical clinics. Social workers also work in hospices, health maintenance organizations, nursing homes and health organizations like the American Cancer Society and the America Lung Association.

Social workers use a wide range of skills in all of these settings, employing both a family and a systems-oriented approach to psychosocial care. They provide counseling, help families develop strengths and resources, and run programs for patients who have diseases such as AIDS and heart disease. They play an advocacy role as well: One social worker in New York, for example, developed a radio program aimed at informing people about how to prevent eating disorders.

The long and prestigious history of social workers working in the health care system dates back to 1905, when social work advocate Ida M. Cannon launched the first hospital social work department at Massachusetts General Hospital. Even then, hospital officials acknowledged that patients needed help making a smooth transition from the hospital to the community. This remains an important role for today’s social workers, who serve as case managers or “discharge planners” who ease the transition from hospital to home.

The following case of a man considering a heart transplant is a good example of how social workers use their skills to create the best possible outcome for medical patients and their families.

Gail is a social worker in Palo Alto, Calif., who is assigned to the case of
Mr. Hunt, a 64-year-old man from Boise, Idaho, who needs a new heart in order to live. Gail must address several important areas with Mr. Hunt and his family. First, she is part of the team that determines if he is an appropriate candidate for a transplant—a delicate and complicated operation that requires a good deal of aftercare. She assessed whether he could handle the stress of the operation by determining if he tends to comply with medical instructions and whether he has a strong support system.

Once she determined that he was a good candidate, Gail helped Mr. Hunt and his wife cope with the long waiting period that is common in transplant situations. She provided counseling as well as practical information about what to expect from the surgery. Because the Hunts are from out of town, Gail also helped to locate local housing and transportation. She kept in touch with their daughters in Idaho to make sure everyone was prepared for the Hunts’ return. Finally, when a heart became available, Mr. Hunt went in for a successful round of surgery. The Hunts returned to Boise with renewed hope, thanks largely to Gail’s efforts.

www.socialworkers.org/health.asp

www.helpstartshere.org/Health_And_Wellness/Default_Page.html

References:

Gibelman, M. (1995). What Social Workers Do (4th ed.).
Washington, DC. NASW Press.

NASW (2000) Social Work Speaks (5th ed.).
Washington, DC NASW Press.