Social workers in healthcare
Compassionate and dedicated social workers are a common thread throughout the broad and complex healthcare landscape. Healthcare social workers advocate for patients to receive the care they need and want, while empowering them to make their own decisions and prioritize their best interests.
Montage Health’s nearly 100 social workers span many roles in departments across the organization including Montage Medical Group, Ohana, Behavioral Health Services, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Supportive and Palliative Care, Westland House, Aspire Health, Care Coordination Services, and Hospice of the Central Coast.
Social workers at Ohana are part of the beginning-to-end patient experience. We think about how we can make the patient’s experience a comfortable one, and one they might even be eager about as they are a step closer to healing.
— Jessica Moon, Operations Director, Ohana
Support at every stage of your healthcare journey
Social workers help patients and families at every stage of their healthcare journey with support including:
- Coordinating healthcare setting transitions
- Transportation, housing, food, and financial assistance
- Connection to community resources
- Advance care planning
- End-of-life support
- Therapy and counseling
- Navigating appointments and paperwork
“Social workers support all of our patients unconditionally,” says Cara Allard, social worker and Care Coordination Services Director at Montage Health. “Regardless of income, insurance, or where you live, we are going to take care of you at the highest level.”
While medical treatments focus on treating an illness or injury, social work treats the ways an illness or injury impacts the functioning of a patient’s daily life.
“We work with patients holistically and take into account all aspects of their lives so they have what they need to thrive after our encounter ends,” Allard says.
Removing barriers to care
Ohana social workers
Operations Director at Ohana and social worker Jessica Moon says a social worker’s first responsibility is to determine whether a patient’s basic needs are being met for them to receive care.
“Social workers connect patients and families in need with transportation to appointments, financial assistance so they don’t have to choose between which bills to pay, food and housing assistance, and other resources,” Moon says. “Families might be in some of their darkest times when they come to us. We strive to be a light beside them to support them through their journey.”
Coordinating care
At Ohana, a social worker is one of the first and last interactions patients have, from intake and assessment to discharge planning.
“Social workers at Ohana are part of the beginning-to-end patient experience,” Moon says. “We think about how we can make the patient’s experience a comfortable one, and one they might even be eager about as they are a step closer to healing.”
“You can deliver care in the immediate moment,” Davis says, “but if you want lasting, quality outcomes, the whole picture needs to be considered, and that’s where social workers come in. Recurrence and relapse rates improve for mental health patients when social workers are involved. If we want better mental health outcomes, social workers are integral.”
A fulfilling and impactful career
