There are many fields of social work and one of them is medical social work. This is something that deals with the psychosocial part of people’s lives and focuses more on patients. These patients can be suffering from any disease or problem.
There are also many different areas that are covered in this field. Medical social workers can work with patients who are suffering with incurable and lifelong diseases such as AIDS and Alzheimer’s and even cancer. These patients need support and help to make the remaining days of their lives easier and so workers help with that. They can provide medical advice, assistance and at home care if needed by the patients.
If a patient has been through a traumatic accident, or been diagnosed with a serious illness, many doctors and hospitals recommend medial social workers to help these patients these trying times. It can be very hard for people to take such bad news, and they can be in shock, so workers can help them with that. If needed, therapy can also be recommended.
Another important responsibility is to help people with substance abuse problems, and to provide help to their families. Medical social workers can help these people find medical help and cures for their addictions, and help their families cope with this situation. Sometimes, families even call such workers to help addicts, who are not aware that they have a problem.
Medical social workers also work with victims of abuse, whether it is family abuse, domestic violence or child abuse. Many times, doctors and teachers can suspect that someone is a victim of abuse even if the person does not talk about it, and they call specialists in the field to help investigate the situation. Patients are more likely to talk to an expert about such negative incidents, and often hide it from their families and friends.
Hospices also hire medical social workers to help the patients who are on their death bed. They help these patients wind up their affairs so that they are ready for any situation. They can help write wills, fulfill last wishes and even help the families of such patients if death does occur.
Medical social workers have a lot of responsibilities and can really make a difference for people in need, and the society as a whole. This is why many hospitals now have such people on call, and recommend patients to visit them.
