The moment I decided that I wanted to become a social worker, I knew I wanted to be a medical social worker, and work in a hospital setting. For most of my life, I worked in a health care setting, caring for individuals who are unable to take care of themselves. This was due to illnesses or simply old age. This is why I am super excited that my internship is at Southside Hospital. Southside Hospital is a part of the North Shore Long Island Jewish healthcare system, and it has 341 beds. I am in my element doing what I love to do. The main nature of contact for social workers in hospitals setting is to do a comprehensive psychosocial assessment, and assist in creating a safe plan for discharge. We help patients with conditions spanning the
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We help them work through the emotions of a diagnosis, and provide counseling about the decisions that need to be made. We help patients and families understand the illness and treatment options, as well as consequences of various treatments or treatment refusal. We educate patients on the roles of our health care team members, which assists patients and families in communicating with one another and to members of the health care team. This education includes interpreting information and explaining the levels of health care. Some of the levels include acute, sub- acute, home care, entitlements, community resources, and advanced directives. We often educate hospital staff on patient psychosocial issues, and promote communication and collaboration among health care team members. We coordinate patient discharge and continuity of care planning, and set up patient navigation services. The hospital also assists in arranging for resources and funds to finance medications, durable medical equipment, and other needed services. We advocate for patient and family needs in different settings that includes but is not limited to inpatient, outpatient, home, and community. Finally, we champion the health care rights of patients through advocacy at a political level (Judd & Sheffield,
We help them work through the emotions of a diagnosis, and provide counseling about the decisions that need to be made. We help patients and families understand the illness and treatment options, as well as consequences of various treatments or treatment refusal. We educate patients on the roles of our health care team members, which assists patients and families in communicating with one another and to members of the health care team. This education includes interpreting information and explaining the levels of health care. Some of the levels include acute, sub- acute, home care, entitlements, community resources, and advanced directives. We often educate hospital staff on patient psychosocial issues, and promote communication and collaboration among health care team members. We coordinate patient discharge and continuity of care planning, and set up patient navigation services. The hospital also assists in arranging for resources and funds to finance medications, durable medical equipment, and other needed services. We advocate for patient and family needs in different settings that includes but is not limited to inpatient, outpatient, home, and community. Finally, we champion the health care rights of patients through advocacy at a political level (Judd & Sheffield,