The office of the Medical Social Work Department (MSWD) is small compared to other offices of the Mary Johnston Hospital (MJH); but this modest working area that accommodates four staff members passes through a full spectrum of human emotions — joy, frustration, hope, and even sorrow. The MSWD serves as the heart of the Manila-based mission hospital that reaches out to the community’s most vulnerable. Indeed, its impact goes beyond the walls of MJH. What exactly is the Medical Social Work Department (MSWD), and what sets it apart from other departments? Unlike other departments that focus on inpatient and outpatient care, the MSWD goes beyond the hospital walls to engage with the surrounding community. It believes in reducing hospital admissions due to preventable illnesses. To achieve this goal, it is essential to visit and assess communities, addressing health issues at their source. So far, the MSWD has been able to establish partnerships with three barangays in Tondo, Manila: Barangay 47, Barangay 69, and Barangay 123. Through these partnerships, the hospital conducts free medical missions and health lectures to raise awareness, and, when blessed with the support of benefactors, MSWD holds a year-end thanksgiving. The Medical Social Work Department is one of the busiest areas in the hospital, with a constant flow of individuals seeking assistance. Many of these patients face overwhelming problems, and our medical social workers are there to listen and provide emotional support. By building rapport and conducting thorough interviews, the social workers gather crucial information that aids in the helping process. So, what is this helping process? MSWD provides frontline services to address the social and psychological hardships that often accompany serious health conditions. Financial concerns are one of the primary challenges faced by patients, and our social workers make referrals to various social welfare institutions to help alleviate hospital expenses. In addition to casework and community outreach, the MSWD plays a crucial role in addressing unintended pregnancies and abortion issues. The department is actively involved in the hospital’s family planning program, specifically promoting the No-Scalpel Vasectomy (NSV) procedure, a permanent surgical birth control method for men. This quick, 20-to-30-minute procedure is performed once or twice a month, with 10-15 clients undergoing the operation each session. One of the program’s main goals is to increase male involvement in reproductive health and family planning through advocacy and NSV services. Despite its small size, the Medical Social Work Department shoulders an immense and often exhausting workload. Yet, these challenges do not diminish its commitment to fulfilling its responsibilities. The MSWD remains steadfast in upholding the vision and mission of MJH. Thedepartment’s workers, driven by their professional oath, continue to place service to humanity as their top priority.
