Social workers play a key role in humanising healthcare, providing support to patients and their families at difficult times. Their tasks cover a wide range of activities that focus on improving patients' quality of life and integrating different aspects of healthcare.
Who are the social workers?
Social workers are professionals who are concerned with helping people in difficult life situations. In the context of medical care, their role is to support patients and their families in the treatment and rehabilitation process. Social workers work together with doctors, nurses and other professionals to provide patients with comprehensive care that takes into account both medical and social aspects. Their work includes counselling, education, care coordination and assistance with administrative formalities.
Social workers need to have the appropriate education and qualifications, usually gained through higher education in social work. In Poland, in order to practice as a social worker, it is necessary to complete a bachelor's or master's degree and to gain work experience through internships and apprenticeships. Social workers must also regularly attend training and further training courses to keep up to date with the latest working methods and legislation.
Emotional and psychological support to patients
Social workers are often the first point of contact for patients who need emotional and psychological support. Their job is to help patients cope with the stress of illness, hospitalisation and the treatment process. They offer individual counselling, run support groups and help patients to express their feelings and concerns. This helps patients feel understood and less alone in their health problems.
An example is a patient who felt lost and overwhelmed after her cancer diagnosis. The social worker helped her not only to understand the treatment process, but also to arrange meetings with other patients going through similar experiences, which greatly improved her wellbeing and reduced her feelings of isolation.
Care coordination and administrative support
One of the key tasks of social workers is to coordinate the various aspects of medical care. They liaise with doctors, nurses and other professionals to ensure consistency and continuity of patient care. They also help with administrative formalities such as completing paperwork, obtaining approvals for treatment and organising medical transport. This allows patients to focus on their health and not on bureaucracy.
For many patients, especially those who are elderly or have limited mobility, the support of a social worker is invaluable. He or she helps to organise home visits, transport to examinations and co-ordinates various aspects of care, greatly easing the burden on the patient and his or her family.
Education of patients and their families
Social workers also act as educators, providing patients and their families with the necessary information about the disease, the treatment process and the support resources available. They organise workshops, training and information meetings to help patients better understand their health and make informed decisions about their treatment. They also provide information on patients' rights and opportunities for financial and social support.
For example, social workers can run workshops for patients with diabetes, explaining the principles of proper diet, medication management and blood sugar monitoring. Through such initiatives, patients gain more control over their disease and improve their quality of life.
Cooperation with NGOs and local communities
Social workers often work with NGOs and local communities to provide comprehensive support to patients. They may assist in finding shelter, providing access to food or other basic needs. Through this cooperation, patients receive not only medical but also social support, which significantly affects their comfort and quality of life.
In one case, a social worker helped a patient who had lost his home due to a long-term illness to find temporary shelter and obtain financial support, allowing him to focus on his recovery without additional stress.
Promoting the humanisation of health care
One of the most important aspects of the work of social workers is to promote the humanisation of healthcare. They work to improve the relationship between patients and medical staff, emphasising empathy, respect and understanding. Social workers help to create an environment in which patients are treated with dignity and care and their needs are prioritised. Through their work, medical care becomes more patient-centred and person-centred.
Social workers also organise training for healthcare staff, emphasising the importance of communication and empathy in the daily care of patients. Such initiatives help to change the culture of healthcare, making it more welcoming and humane.
Social workers are an invaluable support in the process of humanising health care. Their work contributes to patients' quality of life, care coordination and health education, which is crucial for an effective and holistic approach to health. Thanks to them, patients can count on emotional, administrative and educational support, which greatly facilitates the treatment process and improves the overall quality of life.