Medical social workers, also known as healthcare or hospital social workers, are individuals who work with medical patients and their families. These patients may be chronically ill, disabled, or otherwise unable to care for themselves. In these cases social workers join the medical team and assist with decision-making, resource coordination, counseling, and much more. If you have a strong desire to help people, and also enjoy health sciences, a career as a medical social worker could be a great fit for you!
What Medical Social Workers Do
Medical social workers have many different roles and responsibilities depending on what type of case they are working on. Here is a brief summary of some of the things these individuals do:
- Evaluations. Medical social workers start by assessing the needs and health of their patients, both mentally and physically. This initial needs assessment guides the process of care from start to finish.
- Coordinate resources and supports. A big part of the job is helping patients find any health resources or community supports that are needed to improve their situation. This may involve managing things like Medicare, Medicaid, and similar social programs.
- Client education. Navigating the healthcare system can be confusing, so medical social workers help explain various options or policies to patients, so they can make good decisions.
- Professional referrals. In some cases, social workers refer patients specialists and other healthcare professionals to receive additional follow-up care.
- Crisis intervention: Hospital social workers often deal with emergency situations that require immediate intervention and care.
- Counseling and therapy. When patients and their families are having trouble coping, a social worker may provide counseling or therapy to assist them with difficult situations and decisions.
- Discharge planning. When patients are ready to be discharged from the hospital, the medical social worker manages the details of this process.
- Work with treatment team. Medical social workers are always part of a larger team that may include doctors and other specialists, all working closely together to provide comprehensive treatment.
- Advocacy. Healthcare social workers are the voice of their patients! It is up to them to make sure all their mental, emotional, and physical needs are met.
- Paperwork. In each case, the social worker must document treatment plan, keep necessary paperwork up-to-date, and write formal reports or recommendations.
Where Medical Social Workers Work
Medical social workers can find employment in a variety of settings working directly with patients, with other health professionals, or with both.
Some common work environments include hospitals, health clinics, emergency centers, rehab centers, nursing homes, assisted living homes, community health agencies, government agencies, patient homes (in-home visits), or even colleges and universities – as a professor!
Medical Social Worker Salary
Medical social worker is one of the highest paid positions in the entire field of social work. The graph below was taken from a 2009 salary survey conducted by the National Association of Social Workers. As you can see, medical social work careers hold two of the top six highest-paid positions in the field! Hospital social workers make $60,000 on average, while health clinic social workers earn approximately $55,000 each year.
To see the average salary for medical social workers broken down by state, check out this page: How Much Do Social Workers Make?
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