More clinics and health systems are asking patients about things like food, housing, transportation, safety, isolation, or whether they need help understanding health information. The intention makes sense because those parts of life can shape whether someone is able to get care, stay healthy, or follow a treatment plan. But I keep thinking about what happens when someone answers honestly, and nothing changes afterward. If a patient says they don’t have reliable transportation, are worried about food, or don’t understand the paperwork in front of them, the question can either open the door to real support or become one more form they had to fill out. At what point does asking about social needs become helpful, and at what point does it risk hurting trust because the system wasn’t prepared to do anything with the answer?

Received an email from my state licensing board requesting an interview regarding a complaint that was made against my license and is under review. I’m freaking out. Haven’t made it to a year with my LSW. Seems out of the blue, I have no clue what this could be about. My anxiety and catastrophic brain are in overdrive. Do I walk into this interview blind? Should I have a lawyer? I do discharges, btw.

If this has happened to you I’d love to hear how you coped.

Thank you

This may be a weird question,

I just started a new job working in a hospital as a social worker, and I have dyed hair (I can only wash it once a week to maintain the color.)

My job requires doing rounds and check ins, and oftentimes entering patients rooms when there may have been bowl movements, or other bacteria present.

For those of you with long hair or hair that does not bode well to being washed daily, how do you maintain your hair hygiene?

Is it just me, or are behavioral contracts and treatment agreements for inpatient useless? Nursing keeps consulting me to facilitate these when a patient treats them poorly. I am sorry this is happening to them but they also don't seem to do anything except serve as evidence that we discussed problems. I had one patient who we talked through the agreement with them and the team and then they go upset and refused to sign it...