The UI Hospitals and Clinics Department of Social Service was established in 1921, making 2006 our 85th anniversary, says Greg Jensen, ACSW, LISW, director of Social Services at UI Hospitals and Clinics. "We are the oldest social service department in a hospital west of the Mississippi. Our mission has remained constant throughout this rich heritage--To help patients and families make the best use of medical care while they're in the hospital and after they're discharged."

Social workers are professionally trained, and in Iowa, are licensed by the Iowa Department of Public Health. Social workers who have a bachelor's degree in social work generally work in community-based social service agencies providing a wide range of services including foster care services, housing assistance, direct care providers in group homes for adolescents, persons with mental illness or developmental disabilities and helping people apply for entitlement programs such as Medicaid or Social Security Disabilities, Jensen says.

The second level of social workers has master's degrees in social work (MSW). They often work in health and mental health care settings. They may also be in private practice providing psychotherapy services such as individual, family or couples counseling. Many social service agencies are also managed by social workers who have their MSW. Social workers with this level of training have the ability to work with the most complex situations such as helping people manage life threatening illnesses, treatment of child abuse or diagnosing and treating mental disorders.

The third level includes social workers who have their Ph.D. in social work. They usually practice in academia and research centers.

The social workers at UI Hospitals and Clinics provide a range of services to patients and their families that enable them to make the best use of medical care while they're in the hospital and after they're discharged, Jensen says. These services fall into several categories including:

• Arranging for services required after patients leave the hospital such as home health care, home equipment, or placement in a nursing facility
• Referrals to community agencies such as the Free Medical Clinic, the Department of Human Services, or the local Mental Health Center
• Crisis counseling for patients confronting a new diagnosis of a life threatening illness
• Helping patients apply for Medicaid, Social Security Disability, or other programs that might help them finance needed health care

"Let me tell you about one of our patients," Jensen says. "Mr. Johnson (not his real name) was recently admitted to our intensive care unit following a truck accident where he suffered severe spinal cord injuries. Mr. Johnson had been a truck driver his whole life. His concern, as well as his family's, was his immediate survival. His family kept constant vigil over him while he was in intensive care.

"The social worker first met Mr. Johnson and his family the day after his admission. The social worker provided support to Mr. Johnson knowing his immediate survival was of the utmost concern. That said, the social worker also knew the many challenges ahead for Mr. Johnson and his family and began planning to help them meet these challenges.

"The social worker provided the Johnsons with information about spinal cord injuries and helped them apply for Social Security Disability. She also talked to them about how this injury will impact their lives such as work, finances and family relationships. She met with Mr. Johnson's children to explain to them their father's injuries and answered their questions.

"Once Mr. Johnson was out of intensive care and ready to be discharged, she helped him find a rehabilitation center to go to. She anticipated issues the Johnsons would confront and was there to help them manage these issues. This allowed Mr. Johnson to focus on his recovery."

Every patient at UI Hospitals and Clinics has the right to receive services from a social worker at no additional charge to them; Jensen says, however, not every patient is assigned a social worker. Patients or family members can request this service. In addition, physicians, nurses, and others refer patients to a social worker if they believe the services are needed.

For more information:

Department of Social Service