Social Worker in rehabilitation medicine is medical social workers who work with a multidisciplinary team to provide patients and families with the best possible medical care. The target groups are persons with a physical disability, including patients with Stroke, Spinal cord injury, Traumatic brain injury, Degenerative nerve diseases, and others.
Rehabilitation medicine uses the ‘Bio-Psycho-Social Model’ to diagnose the illness by not only taking a look at the disease but also looking at a human as a whole. Besides the Bio-Psycho-Social Model, rehabilitation medicine pays attention to the family because the family is the most vital part of taking care of the patient, and they can prevent the recurrence of symptoms. Or persons with physical disabilities, caregivers may have stress which leads to mental health problems.
Social workers in Rehabilitation Medicine are primarily responsible for family evaluation by using Family Readiness Assessment: F.R.A. There are three main goals when conducting a family assessment. The first is orienting the family interview process and establishing an open collaborative relationship with the family. The second goal is to have family members identify all current problems in the family.
The third goal is to identify the families’ transactional style that appears to be related to the family’s functioning. This evaluation form will help tell the social worker to decide what methods should be used to serve each patient, for example, those who are very ready. The appropriate method is Psychosocial education, but in the case with less flawed. Social workers will use family therapy methods.
Of particular interest to social workers in rehabilitation medicine is the understanding of the recovery period. Counseling for patients and relatives to understand their changing physical condition and then educate them about returning to society. Remind them that they have to maintain home-program rehabilitation. Moreover, social workers also use the Zarit Caregiver assessment to see the severe burden. Then, social workers will talk to caregivers to find out what they want or what resources and support social workers can provide to develop their well-being so that the family can perform their duties and be truly self-reliant.
In conclusion, social workers in rehabilitation medicine help patients and their families get the right services for their context. For example, in disabled patients, both relatives and patients are hesitant to make the decision. Or illness that affects the role of a family member. Social workers will help patients and families to think and make decisions together. Social workers are supporters who have not made the decision for them but help them as facilitators. And take care of the illness until the last day of the patient’s life. Always keep in mind that the patient is human. Not just a disease that can be cured by medicine.
