Thursday, May 6, 2010

Medical Social Work in Malaysia

Introduction

Medical Social Work in Malaysia, provide a comprehensive and effective medical social work service at both in-patient and outpatient level to patients and their families. In the modern era of varied and complex diseases for which the medical science is unable to find out remedies, the functions of Medical Social Worker attains much importance. Our Medical Social Worker with their knowledge of the dynamics of human behaviour as well as skills in establishing purposeful relations, tries to know the patient as a ‘person’, his socio-economic conditions, his attitude towards health problems, his relationship with the family, taps community resources and acts as a liaison between the patient and community. Our service will be provides oil that enables the complicated hospital machinery to move smoothly and eficiently, assists the patients to have that peace of mind that allows them to benefit to the full from medical and surgical care and provides the important liaison with community that results in good public relations and the most effective use of resources.

Mission
Our mission is “to enhance human well-being and help meet the basic human needs of all people...”.

Objectives
*To help the patients solve their problems which directly or indirectly affect their medical condition while in the hospital;

*To promote continuity of family relationships and to prevent family maladjustment and disorganization during and after illness;

*To assist the doctor and other team members gain an understanding of the socio-behavioral and economic situation of patients and their families in order to arrive at a holistic approach to diagnosis and treatment; and

*To help patients and their families in their rehabilitation during confinement and after discharge by skillful use of their own resources, those of the agency and those of the community.

OUR SERVICES

a) Supporting Therapy

*Support ( helping patients and families cope with the emotional stresses that often accompany illness, separation from home and family and unfamiliar experiences )

*Counseling ( talking over problems and looking for solutions individually with a medical social worker and in a group setting that may include an outside referral )

*Marital and family caunselling ( life altering diagnosis & grief counseling)

*Specialized services for battered spouse, unmarried mothers & adoptions
( legal reporting and support planning ) .


b) Practical Assistance

*Immediate financial/practical assistance to needy patient

*Financial aid for implants & prosthesis

*Multi-disciplinary team work

*Psychosocial assessment for planning and team consult ( mental status examination & collaboration with MD`s, nurse and other team members)

*Psychosocial evaluation

*Home visits ( to confirm diagnosis, to provide social support, follow up care and social investigation and assessement of needs )

*Liaison Work

*Information and Referral ( providing information about resources for needs such as transportation, finances, legal services and vocational services )

*Legal issues ( public guardianship, immigration issues, legal referral & conservatorship-civil and psych. )

*Care of elderly/abandoned

*Geriatric with psychosocial problems

*Discharge planning ( assisting to home and intermediate care facility )

*Rehabilitation and assistance with job placement for patient

*Post-Hospital Planning ( coordinating services such as outpatient appointments and continuing supportive medical social work intervention.

*Long and short term care planning ( assessment of home & support system, anticipation of future care and home health options )

*Placement (Institution)

*Consultative and advisory services ( CAS )

c) Specific services
*Hospital Management Committee,

*Hospital Board of Visitors,

*Hospital Voluntary Services,

*Lodging / Half Way House ( Rumah Perantaraan ),

*Transit Home for abandond patient ( Pusat Jagaan Nurhasanah, Pusat Jagaan Nur Adwa),

*Fund for patient ( Tabung Kebajikan Perubatan Malaysia )