A hospital social worker is a highly trained hospital employee who works in a variety of settings, including general hospitals, children’s hospitals, and convalescent or long-term care facilities. These professionals focus on assisting patients and their families while they are in the hospital. They also assist families in preparing for discharge and any ongoing care requirements that may arise once a patient returns home. Families and patients can benefit greatly from such workers.
Most hospitals require a hospital social worker to have a Master’s degree in social work, though this varies (MSW). Many more employers demand that these workers work toward licensure or certification as a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), which requires about 3000 hours of supervised training after the master’s degree is completed. There are a number of jobs in medical social work available to people who have completed this training, and these can be appealing because they are well-paid positions that are geared toward training people to be hospital social workers while also allowing them to obtain licensure hours.
As a hospital social worker, my goal is to assist patients and families in making a smooth transition through hospital care while also communicating with the primary medical team in charge of that care. The ultimate goal, if possible, is to get the patient and family home after treatment, but this is not always the case. Patients with chronic illnesses may benefit from being discharged to a long-term care facility or a rehabilitation hospital. Some patients die while in the hospital, and they may have different needs that social workers can help with.
In any of these situations, the social worker communicates with the family on a regular basis, sometimes on a daily basis, to assess the family’s needs. They could listen to upset family members or patients, assist in negotiating conversations between family members and treating physicians, and provide information to a family on things like low-cost local lodging. These volunteers can also apply for government social services if a patient or family qualifies due to illness or financial hardship.
Preparing patients for discharge or transfer is another important task. It is necessary to consider the extent of medical need at home as well as the readiness of homes to receive patients. For example, a hospital social worker must find a shelter for a homeless patient who is being released from the hospital, or the patient will be unable to leave. Similarly, if a sick person requires medical equipment or ongoing outpatient care, the hospital social worker will usually arrange for it before discharge. Social workers in this role may also ensure that patients understand discharge instructions and serve as a point of contact for family or patients after they have returned home.
Families can benefit greatly from the assistance of hospital social workers. During hospitalization, they may offer assistance, counseling, and instruction to family and patients. Their work helps patients, families, and medical providers communicate more effectively, and social workers use their knowledge of social systems to assist families in obtaining additional support or care after discharge.