one of a kind care - Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics
one of a kind care - Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics
one of a kind care - Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics
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When a child is<br />
hospitalized, it can<br />
be overwhelming<br />
for the entire family.<br />
That is why the Social Work team<br />
at Children’s <strong>Mercy</strong> is available<br />
to help families help themselves<br />
through difficult circumstances.<br />
The more than 60 social workers<br />
at Children’s <strong>Mercy</strong> provide a<br />
variety <strong>of</strong> services to the families<br />
<strong>of</strong> patients, including assistance<br />
with food, clothing, lodging,<br />
<strong>and</strong> transportation; referrals<br />
to community resources <strong>and</strong><br />
support groups; helping the<br />
family figure out how to <strong>care</strong><br />
for the child once he has been<br />
discharged; financial counseling;<br />
<strong>and</strong> assessing cases <strong>of</strong> child<br />
abuse <strong>and</strong> neglect. A staff <strong>of</strong><br />
10 specially-trained medical<br />
interpreters is also part <strong>of</strong> the<br />
Social Work team, <strong>and</strong> is an<br />
invaluable resource for our non-<br />
English-speaking families.<br />
At no point were our social<br />
workers more important than<br />
when Children’s <strong>Mercy</strong> received<br />
24 patients from New Orleans<br />
Children’s Hospital, who were<br />
change <strong>of</strong> clothes. The purchases<br />
were paid for by donations to the<br />
hospital’s Family Support Fund.<br />
When five <strong>of</strong> the families chose<br />
to relocate to Kansas City<br />
permanently, our social<br />
workers connected<br />
them with resources in<br />
the community who<br />
provided housing,<br />
transportation<br />
<strong>and</strong> for some,<br />
employment. One<br />
mother, whose<br />
child’s<br />
immune<br />
system was<br />
severely<br />
compromised,<br />
needed<br />
assistance with<br />
furnishing her new<br />
apartment. Because<br />
<strong>of</strong> the baby’s high<br />
risk for infection,<br />
she couldn’t use<br />
donated furniture. Our<br />
social workers arranged<br />
to purchase new furniture for<br />
the family, including a crib for the<br />
child.<br />
social work<br />
evacuated following Hurricane<br />
Katrina. The families were far<br />
from home <strong>and</strong> arrived with<br />
only the clothes on their backs.<br />
Children’s <strong>Mercy</strong> social workers<br />
arranged to transport the families<br />
to Wal-Mart to purchase the items<br />
they needed, such as a fresh<br />
Every<strong>one</strong> needs a little help<br />
sometimes…<strong>and</strong> when they do,<br />
our patients <strong>and</strong> families can be<br />
comforted to know that our social<br />
workers are here to provide that<br />
help.<br />
Brad Warady, MD, with a<br />
patient from New Orleans<br />
Children’s Hopsital.<br />
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