What do we know about the hospital’s department of social work?

Question

While working as a medical social worker at Holland Community Hospital, Diana Howard, BSW, received a referral to coordinate home health services for patient Joshua Mitchell. Mr. Mitchell had been admitted to the hospital repeatedly after failing to make use of home health services set up for him in the past. In order for Mr. Mitchell to be released from the hospital he had to have a discharge plan from Diana. However, Diana was unsure what course to take as the medical staff pushed for his release and Diana searched for a way to provide services that Mr. Mitchell would use.

Answer 1

The Department of Social Work handled internal referrals from hospital staff and external referrals from Child Protective Services and police departments. In addition to handling crisis situations and referrals, the department of social work
was responsible for patient discharge planning such as follow-up medical appointments or home health care services. In the department there were four social workers: Carol Putnam, MSW, Sarah Wilson, MSW, Anne Peterson, MSW, and Diana Howard, BSW, who constituted an ethnically diverse team that worked well together and with the other hospital staff, even though the doctors, nurses, and social workers sometimes disagreed about patients’ individual needs. Carol Putnam, the director, encouraged the social workers to find a healthy balance in their lives and not let the stress of their fast-paced jobs get out of control.