What does medical social services refer to and what services are provided?

Medical social services professionals help individuals, couples and families cope with the social, psychological, cultural and medical issues resulting from an illness. Professionals in medical social services also help patients fully utilize medical care and services by:

• Explaining health-care resources and policies to patients and their families.
• Assist with planning for any post-hospital patient needs by arranging for services at other facilities or in the home.
• Explaining to patients the factors affecting them due to their illness.
• Helping patients and families receive any follow-up care that may be required by referral to health-care resources.
• Community resource planning and coordination
• Short-term therapy
• Crisis intervention
• Financial assessment
• Counseling with life-style changes
• Teaching regarding coping with loss and change
• Grief counseling

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