Department of Social Work

Specialized Team: Psychiatric Social Work

Clinical Team Leader: Michael Hyman, LCSW-C

Patient Profile (age range, socioeconomic status)

Social work provides treatment to all patients in inpatient psychiatry regardless of socioeconomic status. However, most of the patients (approximately 90%) are from lower socio-economic areas. Many suffer from the ill effects of poverty.

The adult unit ranges from age 18 to 50.

The geriatric unit ranges from age 51 and on up.

Scope and Complexity of Patient Care Needs

Major psychiatric illness
Chronic medical conditions
Homelessness
Uninsured/underinsured
Substance abuse
Non-compliance to treatment
Lack of social support
Lack of financial support

Strategies to Meet Patient Care Needs

Referrals to psychiatric programs throughout the UMMC systems and agencies in the communities including but not limited to targeted case management, psychiatric programs of various intensities, housing programs, substance abuse treatment, and prescription coverage programs
Patient education
Psychotherapeutic treatment, including individual, family, and group counseling.
Coordination of care among healthcare providers.

Extent to Which Care Meets Patients' Needs

Addresses issues of non-compliance to psychiatric and medical care.
Links patients up with community resources
Assists patients with housing, substance abuse treatment, psychiatric treatment, medical treatment, and social services

Most of these needs are addressed to increase the well-being of the patients upon discharge and to help reduce length of stay in the hospital and to decrease recidivism rate of hospitalizations.

Patient Care Providers

Social workers licensed by the State of Maryland at the LGSW level or above.

This page was last updated on: August 9, 2007.

For patient inquiries, call 1-800-492-5538 or click here to make an appointment.

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Physician Referral: 1.800.373.4111