Social workers at Dickinson County Memorial Hospital assist patients and their families with a variety of medical related issues. From left are Suzanne Tusa, LLBSW of Dickinson Home Health; Leah Suazo, LBSW; Stacy Summerfield, LLBSW; and Amy Johnson, LBSW.

IRON MOUNTAIN –Dickinson County Healthcare System and its patients and their families are helped every day by a team of experienced social workers.

In the medical arena, social workers interact with a variety of patients including: the elderly, cancer patients, chronically ill patients, obstetrics patients, victims of abuse and neglect, and patients suffering from addictive substances. Strong communication skills are needed to be of effective assistance.

Medical social workers provide the following types of assistance throughout the healthcare system:

— Discharge planning.

— Patient/family/discharge planning conferences.

— Skilled nursing facility placement.

— Information/referral to community resources.

— Supportive counseling.

— Financial counseling.

— Problem solving.

— Resource for physicians and staff.

In addition to three professional social workers at Dickinson Memorial Hospital, a medical social worker is part of the Dickinson Home Health care team.

The contributions of social workers were celebrated during National Social Work Month in March. There are more than 600,000 social workers in the United States who work to improve lives and communities.