MEDICAL SOCIAL WORKERS IN A WIDE RANGE OF MEDICAL SETTINGS AND PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENTS

Abstract

Medical social workers are employed in various medical settings, such as hospitals and medical centers, specialized medical clinics, and public health departments. Medical Social Work primarily focuses on supporting patients and their families in hospitals, community clinics, and other healthcare settings by coordinating patient care with the larger medical team. According to the occupational profile created by the National Association of Social Work, social workers in the field of medical social work play an essential role in many of the non-medical aspects of patient care, including helping patients and their families navigate the medical system, assessing and monitoring the mental and emotional health of patients and their family members, providing short-term counseling and therapy, and communicating the needs and concerns of patients to the larger medical team. Medical social workers work closely with patients and family members who are experiencing mental, emotional, family, and/or financial stress due to their or their loved one’s medical condition. Due to the types of challenges they encounter and the fast pace of medical settings, medical social workers may find this field to be stressful and demanding. This paper examines the various types of medical social workers in the medical setting and public health program and the dedicated and crucial role they play in the lives of patients and clients in bringing out wellness in various facets.