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Social services in Monmouth Medical Center are provided by licensed
clinical social workers. For patients and families to cope with the
emotional aspects of a cancer diagnosis, the supportive counseling,
education, referral services and support groups are available for
them. Social services such as transportation, wigs and prosthetic
devices, financial assistance and continuing care in the home environment
are also available for patients.
From diagnosis through survivorship, these licensed mastered-prepared
professionals focused their activities in several key areas:
- Offering
individual and family sessions, and facilitating support groups
for patients with breast cancer, colon cancer and prostate cancer.
- Chairing
the Supportive Care Committee, a subgroup of the Leon Hess Cancer
Center’s Cancer Committee. It is working with the
other departments to coordinate existing programs and explore
options for new initiative, including “Spa for the Spirit:
a Day of Beauty and Rejuvenation” for women with breast
cancer who are in active treatment.
- Exploring
the most-effective way to utilize an educational DVD, produced
by a breast cancer patient, that explains what to expect and
how to proceed after receiving a diagnosis of breast cancer.
- Serving
as ‘field instructors” for students pursuing their
master’s degree in social work from Monmouth University
in West Long Branch and Rutgers University in New Brunswick,
who completed internships in the Leon Hess Cancer Center’s
outpatient program.
- Coordinating
events in the community, including a National Cancer Survivor’s
Day program titled, “Celebration of Life: Cancer as a Turning
Point”, featuring psychologist and noted author Lawrence
LeShan, Ph.D., a pioneer in holistic medicine and mind/body/spirit
therapy.
- Collaborating
with community agencies, such as the American Cancer Society
through its “Look Good… Feel Better” program,
which was offered several times throughout the year.
- Continuing
as a liaison with several small private, nonprofit foundations
to secure limited financial assistance for women with breast
cancer who meet certain requirement.
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