The Medical Social Work and Discharge Planning Department is staffed with professional social workers and nurse discharge planners who are master's certified and/or licensed.

As part of the health care team, the social workers and discharge planners work closely with patients and their families during a child's hospitalization. Social workers and nurse discharge planners are available to help ease the stress experienced by patients and families. They also acquaint patients and families with resources available in the community and assist them in making suitable plans for leaving the hospital.

Our specific services are:

• Support: helping patients and families cope with the emotional stresses that often accompany illness, separation from home and family, and unfamiliar experiences.
• Counseling: talking over problems and looking for solutions individually with a social worker and in a group setting that may include an outside referral.
• Communication: assisting with communication among patients, family, members of the health care team and appropriate community agencies.
• Information and Referral: providing information about resources for needs such as health insurance, transportation, finances, legal services, counseling and vocational services.
• Discharge Planning: assisting with planning discharge to home and/or an intermediate care facility.
• Post-Hospital Planning: coordinating services such as outpatient appointments and continuing supportive social work intervention.

For more information, call 215- 427-5031.