Receiving a diagnosis of an illness can be a confusing and difficult time for both patients and their families.

During these difficult times, many questions arise. What kind of treatment will I need? Will I be able to live alone? Will I be able to work? Patients need an advocate to provide support and to get the needed answers to those questions. A social worker is often the one called to provide that support.

That is why The Rehabcenter at Natchez Regional Medical Center is promoting March as National Social Work Month. The National Association of Social Workers has declared this year’s Social Work Month theme as Hope and Health: Help Starts Here.

Social workers have the right education to help clients navigate the confusing world of health options. With more than 110,000 social workers trained and employed in hospitals, their clients have access to the resources and hope that social workers bring.

With nearly 37 million people admitted to hospitals in 2004, social workers serve many of these clients during their hospital stay. As an integral part of many interdisciplinary teams, working closely with doctors, nurses, therapists and other medical professionals, social workers become the advocate for the client for the right course of action.

Social workers commitment to clients starts with diagnosis and continues through recovery and beyond. Many times you’ll find social workers in hospitals where they counsel clients and their families about their illness, the emotions surrounding the illness, treatment options, discharge needs, and caregiver needs.

As the American population ages, social workers are going to be increasingly called upon to meet the needs of older adults in health care settings. Nearly half of all social workers in health care are currently seeing older clients, according to the NASW Center for Workforce Studies, and that number is expected to increase.

Social Work Month also provides an opportunity for social workers to highlight the essential role they play in alleviating some of America’s most difficult problems. Through education, training and dedication, social workers provide assistance in many different practice areas.

No agency or setting can provide all services for the community. Social workers work together by providing one another information and support in order to access as many resources available to a client.

Therefore, the Rehabcenter would like to thank the social workers employed by Natchez Regional Medical Center as well as those serving in social service agencies, home health, private practice, nursing homes, hospice, protective services, mental health, public health, renal care, schools, etc.

Hopefully, when you find yourself wondering how you will cope with a medical crisis, a social worker will be there to provide you information and support to help ease your worries.

Leslie Thompson, LCSW is the social worker for The Rehabcenter at Natchez Regional Medical Center.