Social Services

Saint Mary’s Social Services Department works with patients and families, providing discharge planning, short-term counseling, referral to outside resources and assisting with end-of-life issues such as Living Wills and Advance Directives. The Department is staffed with skilled and experienced social workers who have bachelor’s or master’s degrees.

Saint Mary’s social workers specialize in handling medically related issues and work with a variety of patients including victims of abuse, severe trauma, terminal illness, permanent disabilities and drug or alcohol addiction. Social Services is the liaison between patients and family members and the medical team, keeping the lines of communication open. Social workers take a look at the “whole picture,” focusing on patients’ needs following their discharge from the hospital — helping them to adjust to illness and the changes they will be faced with.

There are many support groups, community service groups, social agencies and sources of financial assistance available in the Russellville area for patients and their families. Social Services helps identify these resources and services for patients to help make the transition from the hospital to home as easy as possible.