Social Work

Social Workers at Cooley Dickinson Hospital are advocates who assist hospitalized and emergency room patients and their families in navigating the health care and behavioral health systems. We provide support to help families accommodate the impact and challenges of illness and hospitalization. We enable communication with patients’ health teams and provide information and referral to community services and providers.

Social workers provide service throughout Cooley Dickinson Hospital and address the following issues:

• Adjustment to illness
• Behavioral health concerns and emotional distress
• Substance abuse
• Safety, abuse and neglect
• Clarification of goals for care
• Capacity for making decisions
• Social and financial concerns
• Information and referral
• Need for crisis intervention
• Dying process and loss
• Family issues and/or lack of support impeding care