Critical Reflection: Nazareth Senior Living Center

Critical Reflection: Provider The site I observed at was Nazareth senior living center. The facility provides short term and long term care to older adults. The health care staff working at the facility includes: Nurses, social worker, dietitian, physical therapist, occupational therapist, speech therapist recreation therapist and a part time physician. The care provider I interviewed was the social worker. When asked about her role in the care team, the social worker stated that she was an advocate for the patients. In addition, the social worker coordinates care meetings with other professions and the families. Finally, she creates discharge and long term care plans for the residents. For a patient who has a short term stay, the social worker

At this facility the social worker spends most of their time with the patients, which is different than I had previously assumed. In previous IPE classes when we have learned about the role of the social worker, it was portrayed as a behind the scenes job. They described the social worker as spending time with the patient, and filling out paperwork for insurance companies. At Nazareth, they have designated staff that are in charge of evaluations and assessments. These individuals complete pre and post assessments, along with submitting the paperwork to Medicare or Medicaid. As a result, the social worker has more time to spend with the patient, instead of completing this type of work. A difference I noticed was that the role of the social worker in Nazareth included ordering equipment for the patients’ homes. At my last sight, Ranken Jordan, this was the role of the occupational therapist (OT). A common task for an OT is completing a home evaluation, and ordering adaptive equipment that is needed. I found it interesting that the social worker was in charge of this type of

In the future, I will remember to provide a holistic care to the patient. This includes their physical injuries along with their spiritual and mental wellbeing. I will provide care that is patient-centered. As in the other IPE classes, patient-centered care is an essential aspect of interprofessional teamwork. It is vital to keep the priority on the patient’s wellbeing. Lastly, I will help the patient understand medical vocabulary and terms by asking questions, eliciting responses and asking the patient to repeat the information that was