[PHSW] Emergency Room Social Work

[McGillicuddy, Michael]

I am a part-time social worker in the emergency department of Northwestern
Memorial Hospital in downtown Chicago. I am interested in connecting with
other social workers who work in an ER setting or who are interested in what
the social work skill set can contribute to the ED. It seems to me that
emergency treatment can trigger a 'teaching moment' capable of moving people
toward important behavioral change.

My vision is of social workers playing the key emergency medicine leadership
role in advocating for public health issues, particularly on behalf of
vulnerable populations. Nurses and physicians are trained to 'listen'
intently to organic and physiological cues; I think our training equips us
to 'listen' for a complimentary but essential set of psychosocial cues. 

Specific interests: 
brief motivational interviewing geared to moving persons with chemical
dependence issues toward treatment; 
case management for repetitive visitors to emergency departments; 
emergency room response to mental health issues below the 'crisis'
threshhold; 
improving adherence/compliance to drug and medical regimins; 
responses to patients who wish to sign out AMA for fear of running up bills
they can't pay; 
and responses to non-admission emergency room presentations of the homeless.
(I also work in a shelter for the ill and injured homeless.) 

I'm hoping that this list-serve puts me in touch with those of you who share
my interest in these issues. I look forward to a rich conversation.
Mike McGillicuddy, LSW




-----------------------------------------
This message and any included attachments are intended only for the addressee. The information contained in this message is confidential and may constitute proprietary or non-public information under international, federal, or state laws. Unauthorized forwarding, printing, copying, distribution, or use of such information is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. If you are not the addressee, please promptly delete this message and notify the sender of the delivery error by e-mail.