During the group discussion, we identified three main topic areas in regards to Mr. Ferguson including his priorities in contrast with the health professional’s priorities, members of the health care team, and the next step in the patient’s care. To begin, we discussed the patient’s priorities during the assessment. The most important problem he identified was his hurt foot because it caused him a lot of pain, and he recently stopped working when the pain reached an extremely high level. This matched with the health professional’s priority of treating his foot; however, they also wanted to care for his unmanaged diabetes, which is the cause of this foot injury. Next, the patient had concerns in regards to how he would afford his hospital visit and medications. Again, the job of the social worker was to set up a plan, so he can attend regular hospital visits and pay for his medications, with hopes of improving his overall health. In line with this, if the healthcare team is able to manage his diabetes and heal Mr. Ferguson’s foot, he could begin working again, so he can afford his medical expenses without assistance. Lastly, Mr. Ferguson addressed his poor diet, smoking habit and increased alcohol consumption. With the help of the care team, a change in Mr. Ferguson’s lifestyle habits will greatly improve his immediate and long-term health.
