What Do Licensed Medical Social Workers Do?

August 14, 2021 / Informative

If you are caring for a loved one who is facing health-related problems and concerns, a licensed medical social worker can help you navigate the complex realm of patient care. Medical social work focuses on supporting patients and their loved ones in hospital, clinics, and other healthcare settings by coordinating patient care with the medical team.

According to the National Association of Social Workers, medical social workers play an essential role in the non-medical aspects of patient care, including helping navigate the medical system, assessing a patient’s mental and emotional health, communicating patient needs and concerns to the medical team and more. Licensed Medical Social Workers can also play an important role in connecting patients and their families with necessary resources, such as senior living communities.

With a strong understanding of clinical social work practices and modalities, along with knowledge of medical environments and protocols, licensed medical social workers are highly skilled at ensuring patients receive holistic, compassionate, and efficient care that improves health outcomes.

In many cases, medical social workers serve as the front line for patients and their families to help relieve social, financial, and psychological challenges that can negatively impact health conditioners. As well, they provide important services to encourage healthy lifestyles, prevent disease, and address barriers to access. Some of the specific ways that a licensed medical social worker can help include:

• Helping with discharge and post-hospital plans
• Coordination of where the patient goes after a hospital discharge
• Finding ways to reduce the cost of medication
• Coordinating the delivery of medical equipment needed for recovery
• Follow-up after a hospital stay
• Connections with resources in the hospital and throughout the community
• Providing comfort

If you are contemplating the assistance of a licensed medical social worker, take a few moments to think about what you may need and the questions you have. Medical social workers are here to help you and advocate for you. Your focus should be on caring for your loved one. A licensed social worker can help take of the rest.