Relationships between Social Work Involvement and Hospice Outcomes (Mayra)
It can be hard to define the role of a social worker when it comes to end of life care. On the other hand, the role of nurses, home caregivers, and physicians is readily discernable. Because of this many hospice programs, in an effort to save costs, tend to reduce the number of social workers and increase the number of nurses/caregivers/physicians. Not only is this detrimental to the hospice patients and overworked social workers, but also in fact studies show that having fewer social workers actually increases costs. If the U.S. hospice industry would properly evaluate the benefits that social workers bring to hospice care, they could not only reduce their costs, but
…show more content…
they could greatly improve the quality of life of their staff and patients. Several preliminary studies were conducted after the drop in hospice social work care to see what effect this had on the hospice patients. (Reese & Raymer, 2004). These studies found that when social work involvement was increased, there were “fewer hospitalizations, on-call visits, and hours for nursing visits,” “lower pain medication costs,” “improved nurse, client, and physician satisfaction,” and “a reduction in staff turnover.” (Reese & Raymer, 2004). Later, two researches decided to test this theory with a more in-depth study and the results were the same. (Reese & Raymer, 2004). The researched conducted a study of 66 hospices and found that not only were the clients more satisfied with their care, but the team members were more satisfied with their work experience.
(Reese & Raymer, 2004). First, many of the hospice patients complained that physicians do not pay enough attention to them or their treatment. (Reese & Raymer, 2004). Because one of the primary roles of a social worker is to facilitate communication between the patient and the caregivers, having a social worker on staff ensures that the patient’s interests are being met and that someone is available to advocate for the patient’s needs. (Reese & Raymer, 2004). Second, social workers are uniquely trained in dealing with family dynamics and can intervene or prevent a crisis between family members or caregivers and the patient, which a nurse is not trained to deal with. (Reese & Raymer, 2004). Lastly, social workers can serve as the team facilitator in ensuring that the team is working well together to efficiently meet the patient’s needs and therefore improving the quality of life of the nurses and caregivers. (Reese & Raymer, …show more content…
2004). Additionally, the presence of social workers reduces medical costs because more of the patient’s psychosocial needs are being met.
(Reese & Raymer, 2004). For example, if a patient is feeling anxious this not only affects them mentally, but the patient may start to experience physical symptoms as a result. This could lead to more contact with the nurse, potential hospital visits, and an increase in pain costs, all of which are very expensive. Having a social worker present allows the psychosocial needs to be met first, decreasing the likelihood that they will rise to the level of physical medical intervention. If the nurses, caregivers, and physicians are not needed as often to intervene in non-medical crises the amounts of home visits necessary decreases and therefore there is a reduction in overall costs for the
hospices. The results of this study have great implications for the hospice social work field. This study shows the importance of a social worker for the patient, the hospice care team, and hospice programs nationally. It changes the view that social work services are an added extra and instead shows that having a qualified social worker on staff can dramatically change the overall quality of care. Additionally, it shows that if hospice programs are willing to spend more upfront to employ qualified hospice social workers, they can save themselves a great deal of money in the long run instead of continuing to poor money into services that are not meeting the patients’ needs. Although a social worker’s function may not be easily definable, this study shows that social workers are an integral part of the hospice team dynamic and should be funded and included as such. • Challenges related to lack of knowledge/ standardized roles: Challenges in Education (Angel) Though there is much advancement in the social services field, however there are still many challenges when it comes to certain areas as it relates to the social worker field. To get a more in depth understanding of these challenges its best to start with the concept of education. These are interventions that are commonly used in social work. However, it may appear that education is underappreciated and deceivingly multifaceted interventions that some social workers are not sufficiently equipped to use. It is essential that social workers have adequate use of readily accessible information that is able in scenarios where prevention is needed. These tools can be the difference in preventing crises when given to help the social worker address the situation that is presented. The article focuses on theories of education being a fundamental intervention tool used by social workers. By providing the unique perspectives of education in conjunction with hospice and palliative can help foster self-determination, coping, compassion, empowerment, as well as cultural sensitivity. The article also discusses exclusively the role of social work and the importance of education as it relates to social work and various aspects of hospice care. In addition, it focuses on an educational basis as it relates to hospice care. According to Hay and Johnson (2001), education is an essential, theory that supports social work intervention and a dynamic strategy that is seen when a social worker is working with patients, clients, individuals, and families’ family of the patients, clients, or individual. The components of hospice care reach far beyond the social worker and the patient. The articles examine how social workers focus on the broader spectrum of the patients, the patient’s families, and situations that may be deemed as severe or life-threatening, including hospice, ending of a life, and palliative care. Education is an important aspect to social work as it provides vital information for the social worker when dealing with an individual in hospice care settings. Both competencies and education conjointly work together, and by doing so it informs social workers of widespread practice, help prepare them for hospice situations, and it helps create professional growth. It’s important to take into consideration the patient at all times. Not only is that the most important characteristic and tool of a social worker, but it helps to overcome the challenges that are presented
God tells his children, “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (Revelation). Death is one of the most frightening and confusing times a person can go through. Watching a loved one pass away is also one of the hardest trials a person can experience. Many people assume that death is a time of pain and the only thing that they can do is mourn and watch their loved one fade away from the earth. This is wrong. There are ways that people can turn a bad situation to good. Dying doesn’t have to be painful and full of suffering. The County Hospice staff makes sure of this. The Hospice staff not only takes care of passing patients physically, but they also take care of the patients emotionally and spiritually. Hospice staff also plays a key role in helping families during the grieving process.
Clinical social workers represent the largest group of behavioral health practitioners in the nation. They are often the first to diagnose and treat people with mental disorders and various emotional and behavioral disturbances (NASW, 2005). Clinical social workers are essential to a variety of client centered settings, including community mental health centers, hospitals, substance use treatment and recovery programs, schools, primary health care centers, child welfare agencies, aging
Caring for an individual who is facing a life threatening illness is often completed by a multidimensional team, including doctors, nurses, therapists, and caregivers, as well as family members. Social workers are an integral part of this team, since they are usually the healthcare workers that are involved in the evaluation and assessment of patients and their family members’ needs and concerns at the end ...
In the health care field, social workers are faced with one of the most difficult and conflict social problem. Patients who are chronically ill have on occasion if they can end their life at their decision. As a social work, you must follow your code of ethics and the law by denying their right to the end-of-life decision. This is called euthanasia, a practice used to end the life of a seriously ill male or female. There is a conflicting issue on the interplay of person and professional views social workers given to patients who are experiencing or experienced end-of-life decisions. There are multiple conflicts with the use of euthanasia and assisted suicide, one major factor is the lack of training needed to successfully handle the situation. Another factor is that the constitutional laws conflict with the actions of agreeing to end someone’s life. For instance, Dr. Jack Kevorkian performed the act of euthanasia on a chronically ill man and publicly videotaped the procedure. He was at the time in the state of Michigan, a state that bans euthanasia and assisted suicide. He was charged with murder and sent to jail for his
Hospice focuses on end of life care. When patients are facing terminal illness and have an expected life sentence of days to six months or less of life. Care can take place in different milieu including at home, hospice care center, hospital, and skilled nursing facility. Hospice provides patients and family the tool and resources of how to come to the acceptance of death. The goal of care is to help people who are dying have peace, comfort, and dignity. A team of health care providers and volunteers are responsible for providing care. A primary care doctor and a hospice doctor or medical director will patients care. The patient is allowed to decide who their primary doctor will be while receiving hospice care. It may be a primary care physician or a hospice physician. Nurses provide care at home by vising patient at home or in a hospital setting facility. Nurses are responsible for coordination of the hospice care team. Home health aides provide support for daily and routine care ( dressing, bathing, eating and etc). Spiritual counselors, Chaplains, priests, lay ministers or other spiritual counselors can provide spiritual care and guidance for the entire family. Social workers provide counseling and support. They can also provide referrals to other support systems. Pharmacists provide medication oversight and suggestions regarding the most effective
Social workers in the healthcare field can be very beneficial to an interdisciplinary team. Throughout the semester we have looked at how social workers bring their professional and distinct skill set and beliefs to these teams. There are many stereotypes and biases surrounding social workers and other professionals on interdisciplinary teams. Social workers also have different views than other healthcare professionals and use their skills in communication to help the clients they serve, along with various other skills that are unique to social workers differing from other professional in the healthcare field. A social worker’s skill set can be extremely useful when working with specific populations at risk. The relationship between health and the role of the social worker can be different from other social worker roles in different fields. However, it is clear that social workers and interdisciplinary teams can be beneficial for everyone.
As many have noticed, since President Donald Trump has been elected there has been word that the Affordable Care Act will be repealed and replaced. The Affordable Care Act has offered major progress for helping to offer all Americans health care. According to Christina M. Andrews, Julie S. Darnell, Timothy D. McBride, and Sarah Gehlert “The profession has much to contribute to the implementation of the ACA” (2013). Social workers have worked hard to find a plan that benefits Americans for the greater good and The Affordable Care Act has made that
First off, clinical social workers work one-on-one with individuals by utilizing psychosocial casework to improve their client’s lives. Social workers at the micro level typically provide case management by coordinating and monitoring services, developing a treatment plan, advocating for new services, providing psychoeducation, and by helping clients learn more about their specific disorder (Marx). They also provide psychotherapy through three major therapeutic approaches- psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral, and humanistic (Marx). When it comes to the mezzo level social worker work with groups and families. They may initiate therapy groups, support groups, psychoeducational groups, and socialization groups all in order to uplift their clients about their mental disorder (Marx). On top of that, social workers also offer family therapy with the goal of helping families learn and function effectively by meeting the needs of a family member with a mental illness (Marx). Finally, social workers also work on a macro level through advocacy and policy changes, and in an administrative setting. Through advocacy, social workers may lobby for policy changes on a local, state, or national level in order to promote positive
Nurses have six principles they must follow which are a set of statements describing what constitutes safe and effective nursing care which apply to all nursing staff in any setting for example ward managers in hospitals; team leaders in community; specialist nurses, community nurses; health visitors; health care assistants and student nurses all cover aspects of behaviour attitude and approach which underpin good responsibility, risk management, patient centred care, communication skills, team working and leadership. All these six principles must be followed. However Social Workers also have principles they must follow throughout their working practice. Their principles are to promote high standard of conduct and practice. Both profession is almost identical as they both have principles they must
Social work as a profession strives to help the welfare of those within the community whether its persons or families through advocacy. Often times clients are those who may be vulnerable and disadvantaged. Social workers aim to help people fulfill basic needs in their everyday lives and assist them by providing beneficial resources and intervention counseling. They do more than just help them in their current situation, it’s about helping them to survive and set attainable goals to live a fuller and better life for themselves, and most time for their families.
“Persons intentionally choose to become nurses to help patients meet their health needs,” even when the patient is actively dying. (Wu & Volker, 2012) Hospice nursing and palliative care nursing are both considered end of life care. However, hospice nursing is typically given to patients with a terminal illness and who have less than six months to live. Palliative care is typically given to patients with a life threatening illness, and is used to increase the patient’s quality of life. Choosing a nursing career in either hospice or palliative care can be extremely difficult, but will provide an opportunity for great personal growth. At times, an end-of-life caregiver may feel responsible for their patient’s death, or they may feel isolated due to a lack of support. Nurses new to this field should “feel that their unit acknowledges death as a difficult event and that discussion of death is acceptable in the workplace.” (Lewis, 2013) The most rewarding, and also most difficult, part of being a hospice or palliative care nurse is the ability to be a part of your patient and their family’s life, including their loss, grief, and death. (Wu & Volker, 2012)
Clinical social workers in the community strive to enhance and maintain psychosocial functioning of individuals, families, and small groups. They also focus on prevention of psychosocial dysfunction or impairment, including emotional and mental disorders. The perspective of person-in-situation (psychosocial context) is fundamental to clinical social work practice (Austin, Barr, & Coombs, 2006).
Social workers are service professionals that benefit communities by providing a voice for those who need one, and helping relieve suffering. In our world today, ignorance thrives and discrimination is still an issue many people face. Social workers help represent the oppressed and help those facing discrimination learn to stand up. There are also so many problems people experience throughout their lives with family, friends, and even just themselves. Social workers serve to help relieve other’s suffering and find solutions to their problems, whatever they may be. Social workers are a wide variety of people who help others when they need it most.They benefit communities and help make the world a better place.
The profession of Social work is a unique and diverse field in that it has the capacity to reach many different individuals in many different aspects of their lives. Growing up with six siblings and being confined to a small three bedroom apartment, while my mother worked multiple jobs to provide for her children, often times I became reliant on others to guide me. In retrospect of my childhood, I have personally been affected by social workers, and each of them treated my family with such professionalism. These individuals who impacted my life, did not realize the blessings they were bestowing upon me. Little did they recognize, they forever enriched my life. I desire to do the same for others. I yearn to not only become a professional at promoting the well-being of others, but also making a long-term difference for others.
Social workers level the playing field for individuals and families that have experienced hardships, terminal illnesses, mental health disorders and other adverse environmental situations that inhibit their ability to thrive within society. Social workers accomplish this by providing individuals and families the resources necessary to ensure that their needs are being met. Social workers serve an essential role to the functioning of our society, as they are committed and dedicated to increasing the quality of life for underprivileged community members. I fully intend on actively contributing to this endeavor, as I believe social workers have the responsibility to ensure that all community members have their needs met and the opportunity to