When you first enter the medical world as a caregiver, everyone around you hits the ground running. The nurses and doctors know exactly how to get started, and yet, you might be left feeling overwhelmed and powerless.
This is what makes social workers so important: they support the family holistically, encourage communication, help bridge information gaps, and empower you to become an important member of your child’s medical team.
My guests today, Henry Rosh and Megan Keeler, are both social workers at Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago. Henry works with families who have extended admissions in the heart center, and Megan extensively prepares families for admissions and hospitalizations in the epilepsy center.
They are the superheroes in a medical team, meeting families where they are and making their experience in the hospital remarkably better. In our conversation, they’re sharing their best advice on communicating with your medical team, building relationships with nurses, and participating in your child’s care so that you can feel more comfortable and better informed on the next steps in your journey.
Key Takeaways with Henry Rosh & Megan Keeler
- The impact of social workers on medical journeys
- How they make hospitals less intimidating for families
- What is Psychosocial Support?
- Encouraging communication with medical providers
- The role of families in the medical team
- What to expect from bedside nurses, providers, & physicians
- Getting involved in your child’s care both in-person & remotely
- Having confidence to challenge & question medical plans
- Building a two-way relationship with nurses
Henry Rosh & Megan Keeler Tweetables
- “One person can make a difference, and everyone should try.” – John F. Kennedy
- “Patients have a life outside the hospital, and that life can be supportive to what they’re going through as a patient or detrimental. We are there to provide support to make that context work, so they can continue to heal.” – Henry Rosh
- “Families can create beauty and have joy and deep love in the worst part of a crisis. Even when everything is awful, families can support one another and support the patient in a way that is beautiful.” – Henry Rosh
- “Care should never be a checklist, it should be a conversation.” – Megan Keeler
- “The parent/caregiver should be centered as an integral part of the medical team, it’s imperative that we consider them as such.” – Megan Keeler
- “People often wait for the doctor, but your nurse is the most fruitful source of information.” – Jamie Freedlund
Resources
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