Social Work in Care Coordination: About Us

Who Are We?

The Social Workers in Care Coordination at Brigham and Women's Hospital have a staff of professional social workers who are available to you during your hospital stay.
We understand that coming to a hospital can be stressful and medical issues have an impact on other areas of your life. All social workers are trained to deal with personal matters, but hospital social workers have particular expertise in understanding the impact of illness on patients and their families.

Who Uses Our Services?

- Individual Patients
- Families
- Couples
- Groups

When Should You Call Us?

- prior to admission
- while you are in the hospital
- after you have been discharged

Call us if you would like to talk about:

- your medical condition
- your emotional reactions
- your marriage or family
- if you feel unsafe in your relationship
- your job or education
- your living situation
- accommodations for families from outside the area
- finances or insurance coverage
- alcohol or drug use
- death and grief
- nursing home information
- services at home
- the future

How Can You Reach Us?

You may ask your doctor or nurse to contact us for you, or you may call us yourself by dialing 2-6469 or 2-6462 on your hospital phone.

How Can We Help You?

A social worker can help you look at your current situation. Together we can review your medical history and your questions, and help you develop plans to accomplish your goals.

We offer crisis intervention, counseling and guidance, support groups, and referral to community services.  A social worker can help you and your family make the most beneficial use of your hospital stay, and appropriate plans for when you leave.

State Law requires that any conversations you have with a licensed social worker are confidential and privileged. This means that in most instances your hospital social worker is not permitted to disclose information obtained from you to anyone other than your health care team without your consent. However, there are exceptions to this general rule, and a social worker may be required to disclose otherwise confidential communication in some situations.

Examples include situations in which:

- there is question of child abuse or neglect
- there are reasons to believe the client will harm himself or others
- certain legal proceedings exist which involve the client
- there are specific orders from a judge

If you have questions about confidentiality and its limitations, your social worker will be glad to discuss this further.