March is Social Work Month, and our social workers are some of the hardest working people I know.
MSBI has over 80 social workers that form a tight-knit system throughout our inpatient units, ambulatory practices, opioid treatment programs, cancer centers, and other practice environments.
We know our social workers are counselors and advocates for our patients who are most in need. They also serve as compassionate investigators and connectors and technical experts. These are just a few of the many ways they go above and beyond for their patients.
Recently, our Petrie social workers came across a mentally ill woman who couldn’t remember her own name. She was truly lost. They convinced her to allow her picture to be taken and then shared the picture with their community networks, connected the patient with her former caseworker, and got her home. In other instances, our social workers have used social media, blogs, and other online resources to connect patients with their loved ones after they had been staying in the hospital alone.
Our outpatient social workers also go above and beyond. Recently, a pregnant patient came in to see her obstetrician and was devastated that a flood had ruined many items including a baby swing she purchased to prepare for her newborn. The OB social worker connected her with a community-based program that helps provide families with needed resources, and the patient recovered $1200 worth of provisions to replace those that were ruined by the flood.
Next week, we will gather our incredible social workers for a lunch to celebrate and honor their amazing contributions our MSBI community. Thank you to all of our social workers this month, and always.
