Role and required skills

 Skills required of the medical social worker is an ability to work

cooperatively with other health care staff as part of a
multidisciplinary treatment team. They need to have good
analytical and assessment skills, an ability to communicate
clearly with both patients and staff, and an ability to quickly
engage the patient in a therapeutic relationship.
 Willingness to advocate for the patient, Place the needs of the
patient above all other considerations.
 The medical social workers job is to perform assessments with
patients to assess for any physical, mental or emotional needs.
They assess the family support system and link the patient with
services to help with care if needed.
 The social worker can also provide assistance with financial
concerns such as not being able to afford medications or pay
household bills.
 Social workers provide counseling to patients who are suffering
from depression or who are having difficulty coping.
 Ultimately, a social worker links and makes referrals to
agencies to assist the patient with all of these services.
 Social workers can provide a great deal of assistance and
support to help a patient cope emotionally and financially deal
with illness. In addition, health care staff also feel comforted
when they know the social worker is going to help the patient
because it means that they will have fewer problems with the
patient

 Social workers are there to help educate and provide support to

patients and their families. Just like nurses, physicians and
therapists, social workers are experts in their fields. One of the
main benefits of a social worker is helping to be sure the patient
knows what services are available. This can help increase
patient safety
 1)Psychosocial Assessments

 Almost all medical social workers must conduct psychosocial

evaluations. These evaluations entail gathering demographic
information, assessing patients' mental and physical family
histories, citing patients' mental health problems such as
depression or anxiety and evaluating patients for such risks as
suicide and abuse. Psychosocial assessment reports can range
from a few paragraphs to multiple pages depending on a patient's
history. Medical social workers must be adept at communicating
with people about sensitive issues and willing to spend time
getting to know patients and their families to complete
psychosocial evaluations.

2)Discharge Planning

 When a patient is being released from a medical setting, a social

worker is usually behind the scenes making sure that the patient
receives the proper medical follow-up. A medical social worker
might assist the family in scheduling physical therapy or post-
hospital medical appointments. If a patient is depressed or anxious
upon discharge, the social worker might provide a referral for
counseling services.

3)Paperwork

 Most medical social workers have piles of paperwork to get

through on a daily basis. They are required to document all
services that are put into place for each patient. They may also be
required to summarize counseling sessions and complete
progress notes. Medical social workers fill out referrals for patients
for necessary services. Each setting has a different way of
maintaining its documentation, yet medical social workers are
required to complete paperwork in a timely manner.

4)Communication
 Communication is a priority when medical social workers team
with medical professionals. They are required to follow up with
doctors and nurses, and to discuss physical and mental
complications or issues. In some settings, medical social workers
advocate for patients with other medical professionals.

5)Therapy

 Medical social workers provide counseling to patients and their

families. If a patient arrives at a nursing home and appears
depressed, the social worker completes a psychosocial evaluation
and provides counseling. Some settings require that social
workers make referrals for patients to receive counseling services
outside of their agencies because the social workers do not have
the time to provide long-term counseling. In other settings,
however, social workers serve as therapists to patients and assist
with mental heath issues on a regular basis.
 His tasks may include assisting the families of patients and the
patients. He will try to help them with their issues and problems
which are associated with their health.

A social worker case manager is responsible for handling

individual cases of patients, if ever someone approaches him for
help. He may also discussions for support groups. Aside from this,
he is also responsible for assisting patients when they want to look
for the best health care services. The tasks of social workers
include offering patients with moral support, especially to those
who have serious diseases. They also offer assistance to families
and patients who are suffering from domestic violence,
homelessness, and drug abuse. If a patient has difficulty with the
payment of his medical bills, a clinical social worker assists in
searching for financial help and legal resources.

A social worker in medical setting works in hospitals, home for old

people, clinics or community health centers. He works alongside
with other health workers and patients.