> Main News Page

FAIRFIELD MEMORIAL HOSPITAL HIGHLIGHTS PROFESSIONALS DURING NATIONAL SOCIAL WORK MONTH - 2010-03-24

Fairfield Memorial Hospital over the years has recognized a growing need for Social Workers within the healthcare setting due to the complexity of health conditions today.  Therefore, Fairfield Memorial Hospital has sought to increase the education of those providing social services in order to better meet the needs of patients.  Today, the Social Workers of Fairfield Memorial Hospital have advanced educational preparation and practice experience.  A master’s in Social Work is the predominant Social Work degree for licensed Social Workers.

 

Currently, Fairfield Memorial Hospital has five Social Workers in various settings within the hospital.  Two members of the Social Work team provide services to clients at Senior Life Solutions, and the others provide social services to patients and residents of the hospital and long term care units. The Social Work Team of Fairfield Memorial Hospital includes Andrea Shupe, LCSW, Morgan Land, MSW, Kristal McElravy, BSW, Janice Doan, BSW, and Dana Taylor, LCSW. Also providing social services at Way-Fair is Janet McCary, LPN.

 

Senior Life Solutions Social Workers

Senior Life Solutions, at Fairfield Memorial Hospital, employs a master’s level Social Worker and a licensed clinical Social Worker.  The Social Workers, otherwise known as therapists, on the unit provide quality psychotherapy and social services for identified clients, with special emphasis on treatment and discharge planning.  The therapists ensure the organized provision of psychotherapy and social services to the program’s clients and their families.  Interviews of clients and families are conducted by the therapists in order to obtain social history and data pertaining to treatment and discharge planning.  As part of the Senior Life Solutions program, they conduct group and individual counseling sessions with clients.  They also provide care in the pain management environment directed toward meeting both the psychosocial and physical needs of the client.  In addition, the therapists communicate the needs of the clients and client care information to the treatment team.

 

Acute and Long Term Care Based Social Work Providers

Hospital Social Workers provide a variety of services for patients.  They serve as the patient advocate within the hospital by assisting the doctors and nurses with transitioning the patient beyond the hospital setting.  This is done by assessing for special needs such as home equipment, mental health services, home health care or the need to transition into a long term care facility.  These professionals are the linkage to resources or necessary aids to assist patients with maintaining or maximizing independence.  Social Workers also aid with connecting the patient and family with resources within the community after discharge including WADI, Support Groups, and Public Aid. They are available to help the patient with completing advanced directives and discussing life care decisions.  Social Workers are on hand to answer any financial questions regarding Medicare or Medicaid.  They also support the patient’s family by making sure they are educated about the treatment plan for their loved one, by answering any questions or concerns, or by providing bereavement services and resources.  As educators, Social Workers provide addiction counseling along with instruction on how to utilize effective coping skills during crisis.  A Social Worker can be called upon to provide emotional support and counseling to the patient during their stay or to serve as a patient advocate in abuse cases of patients of any age.  They serve as great unbiased sounding boards for patients and families when they need someone to talk to about their unique situation.

 

 

FMH Social Work Clinical Site

For many years, Fairfield Memorial Hospital has served as a clinical field instructor site for Bachelor and Master level students from Southern Illinois University and University of Southern Indiana.  Fairfield Memorial Hospital offers these students an array of experiences such as working with patients, families, and small groups.  The clinical experience assists these students in learning valuable social work skills and techniques.  It also helps students determine their long term career goals within the Social Work profession including a specialization in the field.

 

USI Social Work Advisory Board

Dana Taylor, LCSW, Director of Organizational Development at Fairfield Memorial Hospital, contributes to the future of Social Work education by serving on the University of Southern Indiana Social Work Advisory Board. The Advisory Board analyzes current trends and research on the growth of the Social Work profession by engaging in discussions and facilitating change  of academic endeavors to meet the needs of the students as well as ensuring students have the necessary social work skills for employment within the tri-state area.  In addition, the Advisory Board legislates for policy change, which could impact needed services, including funding for services provided for Social Work clients.

 

Social Work in Other Settings

Social Workers make a wide range of contributions in every community throughout their careers.  While child welfare is an important area of Social Work practice and the one that comes to mind most often when thinking about Social Work, it is only one of the places where you can find a Social Worker.  They work in hospitals, schools, courtrooms, senior centers, nursing homes, the military, disaster relief, prisons and corporations.  They are society’s safety net, providing vital resources and support when they are most needed. 

 

Social Work is a desired profession for those individuals who are committed to enhancing the well-being of humans.  They work in a profession of hope, grounded in the expertise of practical problem solving while adhering to a core set of values and ethics.  The practice setting of Social Workers varies, which could include a private practice, agency or organization, the home of a client, school or hospital. The main goal of a Social Worker is to provide resources and support to the lives of those in need which could include an individual, couple, family, or the community at large.   

 

Katherine Bunting, FMH CEO, states, “Social Workers are extremely valuable not only our hospital, but also to our community.  Social Workers and others serving in the human related field should be celebrated during the month of March, National Professional Social Work Month. If you know a Social Worker serving in our community, be sure to thank them for their commitment and dedication to the profession of helping others.”

 

For additional information about Social Workers visit the National Association of Social Workers website at www.beasocialworker.org.

 

Pictured are Janet McCary, LPN, Kristal McElravy, BSW, Morgan Land, MSW, Andrea Shupe, LCSW, and Janice Doan, BSW.  Not pictured is Dana Taylor, LCSW.