A Social Worker is available to provide various non-medical services to patients and their families.
The following are examples of some issues that patients and families can discuss with the social worker.
Financial hardships such as no insurance, inadequate resources for prescriptions, medical bills and immediate health care needs.
Need for short-term disability programs such as Social Security Disability and SSI and/or local entitlement programs.
Need for coordination of, and/or referral to, community resources such as home care including nursing and home health aide services, home medical supplies, county public health nurses, Visiting Nurse Association, transportation, legal aide services, nursing homes, Hospice and/or organizations such as the American Cancer Society and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
Need for temporary lodging during treatment period.
Need for coordination of services for out-of –town or out-of –state treatments.
Emotional stress in adjusting to illness, disability, and other social situations.
Need for referral for counseling services, including support groups, stress reduction, relaxation and guided imagery.
Living Wills, Power of Attorney, and/or the New York State Health Care Proxy.
Social Worker referral can be made through the nursing staff in Radiation Oncology.
For additional information: Social Services at Upstate Medical University
