Medical Social Work
The Medical Social Work Department at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) plays a crucial role in ensuring holistic patient well-being. Under the Directorate of Finance and Administration and led by a dedicated senior officer and health professionals, our department is committed to achieving the following objectives:
Enabling Access to Healthcare: We empower socially challenged patients to access essential health services by providing appropriate recommendations and support.
Promoting Equity: We strive to offer equal opportunities to all patients, regardless of their socio-economic status.
In line with the Government of Kenya’s commitment to Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and affordable healthcare, the Medical Social Work Department at JOOTRH addresses the diverse social challenges patients face. We focus on issues related to social situations and the development of social skills, ensuring patients can effectively utilize health services. We are dedicated to fostering a sense of belonging and acceptance by offering unwavering support and understanding to every individual.
Beyond socio-economic concerns, our department also coordinates with the Children Department to provide care and protection for abandoned children with special needs. This includes facilitating their placement in children’s homes and tracing their relatives.
The JOOTRH Medical Social Work Department handles over 9,000 cases annually. Notably, 75% of these cases involve outpatients, and a significant 65-75% of those are related to abandoned individuals. Our utility extends beyond just socio-economic support; we are strong advocates for the psychological and emotional welfare of our patients. Recognizing that family dynamics and other factors profoundly impact a patient’s health and recovery, we conduct essential fieldwork and follow-ups to continuously improve our services.
Duties and responsibilities of the department
Our team undertakes a variety of critical responsibilities to support patients throughout their healthcare journey:
Initial Assessments: Reviewing new admissions to identify any special needs or issues requiring immediate attention.
Discharge Planning: Assisting patients with seamless transitions from the hospital, clinic, or nursing home back to their homes.
Care Coordination: Managing the complex needs of patients who require multiple services over an extended period.
Crisis Intervention: Providing counseling and therapy to address unexpected crises.
Resource Navigation: Helping patients understand and access available financial and emotional resources, such as registering for the Social Health Authority (SHA).
JOOTRH is dedicated to its vision of being a center for quality healthcare. The Medical Social Work Department is integral to this vision, ensuring that our psycho-social treatments are recognized as vital in supplementing the physiological management of health and illness.