Role of “Cardiac Social Worker” in Multi-Professional Health Care Team:A Case Study of Cardiac Patient

Page: 136-139
Viney Dhiman (Department of Cardiology, PGIMER, Chandigarh)
Anupama Bharti (Department of Sociology and Social Work, HPU, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh)

According to “The New England Journal of Medicine” 13.17 million people are affected with rheumatic heart disease in India and it remains the largest cardiac cause of morbidity and mortality in children, adolescents and young adults especially among low-middle income countries. Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is generally a disease of economically weaker section connected with poor sanitation and other social determinants o f poor health. This article provides the reader with an understanding of the social worker’s role with heart patient and as part of the interdisciplinary team. Case study was used to illustrate the key components of social work practice, including social care, social advocacy, socio-economic assessment, and Resource mobilization. This case study analysis was conducted from the month of April to June, 2017. Interview and Observation tool was used to analyze the case study. This case study explored that any poor child with congenital and acquired heart diseases with a very poor economic status can lead a normal life with the help of right time intervention of skilled professional social worker. The present result suggested that due to intervention done by professionally trained social worker, patient could reach the resources available in the community to get financial assistance for his complete treatment. With regular connectivity with the patient and family members, a young boy could overcome his impairment due to the illness and after all the clinical interventions the patient is able to lead a normal and comfortable life so that so he is coming to Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh for his follow up visits from a far of place alone. With our positive re assurance for economic independence he is going tojoin his school back very soon.