Celebrating social workers at UK HealthCare
Social Work Month is celebrated every March and honors the incredible impact of social workers across the world. This year’s theme, “Social Work: Compassion + Action,” highlights their dedication and advocacy.
Our social workers are crucial to providing our patients the extraordinary care they deserve. Meghan Frost, a licensed clinical social worker at UK HealthCare, shares more about the impact social workers make on our patients.
What do social workers do at UK HealthCare?
Our social workers help patients navigate complex systems, provide support and advocate for patient rights. They assist with discharge planning, connect patients to community resources and support families during challenging times. Their work ensures holistic care and improves overall patient outcomes.
- Patient assessment: Social workers conduct assessments to understand patients’ psychosocial and discharge planning needs.
- Care coordination: Social workers collaborate with medical teams, including doctors, nurses and other members of the multi-disciplinary team to develop and implement individualized care plans.
- Resource connection: Social workers help patients access community resources and services, such as financial and housing support.
- Discharge planning: Social workers coordinating discharge plans to ensure patients have the necessary support and resources when leaving the hospital.
- Make necessary reports: Social workers report all concerns of abuse, neglect or exploitation throughout UK Healthcare to the Department for Community Based Services and law enforcement as needed.
- Individual and group therapy: Licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs) offer one-on-one therapy sessions and facilitate group therapy sessions to help patients cope with mental health challenges and utilize various therapy interventions to address patient needs.
What barriers to care do social workers help with?
Social workers take a holistic approach by addressing the physical, emotional, social and psychological needs of patients. Social workers advocate for patient rights and needs within the healthcare system to ensure they receive comprehensive and equitable care.
- Financial barriers: Social workers help patients navigate financial challenges by connecting them with resources such as insurance programs, financial assistance and community support services.
- Cultural barriers: Social workers promote cultural competence throughout the enterprise by ensuring that care is responsive to the cultural and linguistic needs of patients.
- Social barriers: Social workers address social determinants of health by helping patients access essential services like housing, transportation and food assistance.
Our social workers are essential members of multidisciplinary teams throughout the enterprise, contributing significantly to patient care and overall healthcare outcomes.
Celebrating our team
We want to extend our gratitude for the unwavering dedication and compassion social workers bring to UK HealthCare every day. Their tireless efforts to support our patients and their families through some of the most challenging times are truly inspiring.
Social workers play a vital role in our multidisciplinary team, ensuring that each patient receives holistic care that not only addresses their medical needs but also their emotional, social, and psychological well-being. They can navigate complex systems and provide critical resources that make a profound difference in the lives of our patients.
We are incredibly fortunate enough to have such a dedicated and compassionate team of social workers at UK HealthCare.
