Patients & Visitors' Guide

Social Work 

Beverly Hospital 85 Herrick Street Beverly, MA 01915 978 922-3000, ext. 2710 or page

Addison Gilbert Hospital 298 Washington Street Gloucester, MA 01930 978 283-4001, ext. 648 or page

Family and support people play a major role in the patient's recovery process. We are committed to providing the support necessary to patients and family members by addressing the emotional and social issues that may accompany a medical illness. The emotional shock, fear and anxiety brought on by illness or disability can seriously affect an individual's ability to benefit from medical care. Social workers counsel patients and families to help them better understand future lifestyle changes.

Medical Social Work
We specialize in areas such as oncology, hospice, cardiology, rehabilitation, end-stage renal disease, and family health.

Other situations in which social workers routinely assist clients include:

• Seriously ill children and their families
• Teenage parents
• Families experiencing complications in pregnancy or infant loss
• Victims of rape, sexual abuse or maltreatment
• Elders at risk or in need of services in their home environment
• Elders and families adjusting to changes in living situations
• Individuals facing life-threatening illness

Concerns and questions of an individual or family may not end after a patient is discharged from the hospital. We are committed to making ourselves available either in person during hospitalization, or by phone during or after the patient's stay.

Here are some commonly asked questions:

How do I get my elderly parent help at home?

Where do I apply to get long-term care insurance?

What is a rehabilitation hospital?

How does one designate a health care proxy?

How does one go about creating a living will?

How do I cope with a new medical condition?

To ensure that a patient's social and emotional needs are addressed, social workers may coordinate with the Chaplaincy Service, or in other situations, social workers consult and coordinate with nurse case managers to determine the most appropriate discharge plan.

Social Work & Case Management
Here are some examples of collaborative care:

• An individual unable to return home due to an unsafe situation but ready for discharge.
• An individual seeking treatment for alcohol or substance abuse who also requires physical therapy due to a fractured hip.
• An individual needing prescription medications who has no insurance coverage.

Social Work offers an educational support group program for patients and families free of charge. Each group is staffed by a licensed clinical social worker trained in group facilitation.

Group Programming
The following groups are among those frequently offered:

• Grief and Loss
• Cardiac/Pulmonary Rehabilitation
• Dialysis
• Infant and Pregnancy Loss
• Oncology
• Caregivers
• Connecting Young Moms
• Other groups may be formed as needed. Please call for more information.

How to Access Social Work Services
Anyone can ask for a consultation with Social Work. Simply call the department or tell your primary care nurse you would like to speak with a social worker.

The Social Work office is open at Beverly Hospital and Addison Gilbert Hospital Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.and at Beverly Hospital Saturdays, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Sundays, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Messages can be left anytime on the department voice mail. There is a social worker available in the building through the page operator.

Beverly Hospital
85 Herrick Street
Beverly, MA 01915
978 922-3000, ext. 2710 or page

Addison Gilbert Hospital
298 Washington Street
Gloucester, MA 01930
978 283-4001, ext. 648 or page