What does oncology social worker do?

Oncology social workers have specialised experience in helping people affected by a diagnosis of cancer. We work in partnership with the treating team to offer counselling services, therapeutic interventions, group work, information and resources to patients, families and carers.

Do cancer patients have social workers?

Macmillan social workers (alongside a smaller number of Macmillan family support workers) work with community and social services agencies to help people manage the social and practical problems of living with cancer, supporting cancer patients from diagnosis through to post-bereavement, often involving complex cases.

How does a social worker help someone with cancer?

Oncology social workers can provide individual counseling, case management, support groups, locate services that help with home care or transportation and guide people through the process of applying for Social Security disability or other forms of assistance.

What questions should I ask a social worker about cancer?

Questions to ask your hospital social worker

  • Can you help me come up with a plan for staying afloat financially during treatment?
  • What resources does the hospital have to assist families dealing with cancer?

What is the role of a social worker in an oncology unit of a hospital?

Iris Cohen Fineberg (ICF): The role of the oncology social worker is to help patients, families, and caregivers deal with the experience of facing cancer. Social workers are educated and skilled to assist with the psychological, social, emotional, and spiritual issues that people have to deal with in oncology.

What do you mean by oncology?

Oncology is the specialized branch of medicine devoted to the field of cancer including diagnosis, treatments, and researches. Doctors who treat cancer patients are known as oncologists. Cancer treatment involves various medical procedures and hence, requires a speciality team.

Why would a social worker call me from a hospital?

At the hospital level, we focus on discharge needs and connecting patients to resources. For example, one could be working on getting a patient transferred to a rehab facility and then get a call about another patient ready for discharge that needs oxygen.

What oncology means?

Listen to pronunciation. (on-KAH-loh-jee) A branch of medicine that specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.