- In many instances, social workers can help address and support a person’s emotional and psychological state. (DiNitto & McNeece, 2008, pp. 206-213)
via giphy - A social worker can help a patient get the most cost-effective treatment or medication. At times, patients cannot afford the treatment or medication that is suggested to them. A social worker’s task, in this case, is to find out if there are more affordable alternatives that are just as effective. (in class lecture)
via giphy - A social worker can take the time to explain the meaning behind the health terms a patient might encounter. There can be many medical terms that a patient will not be able to understand. In Health Literacy: Critical Opportunities for Social Work Leadership in Health Care and Research, it was found that only 12% of people participating in the study had proficient health literacy. A social worker can help translate the jargon of a patient’s disease or treatment into more understandable terms. This is especially important for those patients in America whose second language is English. (Liechty, 2011)
via giphy - Teamwork and collaboration are important to social workers. This means that a social worker urges members of a patient’s team to “…learn from each other and contribute to treatment planning for each patient”(DiNitto & McNeece, 2008, p.206). This means that communication between the team members may be better with a social worker on the team rather than without a social worker on the team.
via giphy
References:
DiNitto, D., & McNeece, C. (2008). Social work: Issues and Opportunities in a Challenging Profession (3rd ed.). Chicago, IL: Lyceum Books
Liechty, J. (2011). Health Literacy: Critical Opportunities for Social Work Leadership in Health Care and Research. Health & Social Work, 99-107. P. 100
In class lecture 3/1/2016
