The Social Worker Role
A hospital social worker helps patients and their families navigate the healthcare system, access resources, and improve their well-being. Responsibilities can include patient education, crisis intervention, advocacy for patients and their rights, case management, knowledge of community resources and social welfare systems, discharge planning and helping patients navigate the financial implications of hospitalization. They also work closely with the medical team to develop care plans to ensure patients receive the best possible care.
Tatum Iverson is the full-time social worker at Veterans Memorial Hospital. Her role is very large, touching most every patient’s care who enters and leaves the hospital, working closely with hospital staff, patients, their families and their insurance companies to coordinate the proper levels of care needed and be sure these are approved.
Tatum provides the assistance families need for taking the next steps following a hospital discharge. She can also help with a referral to skilled care, even from another healthcare facility. Anyone who would benefit from Skilled Care following a hospitalization or surgical procedure can ASK for a referral to be made to Veterans Memorial Hospital’s Skilled Care program. Patients sometimes need skilled care for things like physical/occupational/speech therapy or longer-term IV antibiotics, prior to being able to return home. The Skilled Care/Swing Bed program makes the transition home more successful.
Tatum works as a discharge planner to help elderly or disabled patients arrange in-home services, connecting the patients with numerous community services they may need such as home health nursing and therapy, home-delivered meals, housekeeping and shopping services. If a patient is no longer able to be discharged to their home, Tatum can give direction for finding the right fit, whether it be senior housing, assisted living or nursing home care.
Tatum also encourages all individuals to have Advance Directive forms filled out and on file.
“I encourage families to have the hard conversations to know what your spouse or parents wish for their long-term care, after they are no longer able to live at home,” advises Tatum. “It is so important to take the time to fill out your Advance Directives and share your plans with your family members so there are no surprises. We like a copy here at the hospital to place in your medical record as well as with your primary care clinic and your family members.”
Forms are available at the front entrance to Veterans Memorial Hospital for anyone interested in starting the process and having a form to follow.
For more information on all of these Social Work services, please call Tatum Iverson at Veterans Memorial Hospital at 563-568-3411.
