Sierra Vista Regional Health Center:::Quality People-Quality Care

"Behind the scenes” at Sierra Vista Regional Health Center, the Case Management / Social Work Service Department blends the knowledge and caring of its nurse case managers and social workers, to understand the emotional stress of illness. Our licensed and certified professionals have the skills and training to help patients and families during their stay. They work with doctors, nurses, therapists and others, to help patient and families deal with health care problems that develop during illness, and plan a continued return to normal health after discharge.

Social Work Service

Discharge planning begins the day a patient is admitted to the hospital. It sometimes takes several days to plan and ensure our patients have everything needed for a smooth transition to home or other facility. The social workers assist our patients with:

- Needed medical equipment such as walkers or wheelchairs
- Transfer to a care or rehabilitation facility
- Transportation
- Psychosocial or psychological issues related to their illness
- Crisis intervention
- Emotional support and links to area agencies and services for Hospice patients and their families

Nurse Case Managers

Nurse case managers are an important link among patient and families, insurance companies, and physicians. They are a good resource for patients and families with insurance coverage concerns, and for physicians focusing on quality care for their patients.

- Nurse case managers and social workers communicate with health team members within the hospital to develop plans for patient’s care in the hospital and at home.
- Patient and families are included in the healthcare team decisions.
- Communication with insurance companies, during the hospital stay, is necessary to assure appropriate coverage for the patient.
- Nurse case managers in the Medical Surgical unit, Telemetry and the Intensive Care unit review all inpatient admissions daily.
- Dialogue occurs between physician and case manager each day to determine patient medical needs.

Living Will and Advanced Directives

All states have laws that allow us to make future health care treatment decisions now, so that if we become incapacitated and unable to make these decisions in the future, our family, and doctors will know what medical care we do or do not want. Arizona laws also allow us to appoint a person to make future health care treatment decisions for us if we become incapacitated, since we cannot predict what future decisions might be necessary. These laws are called “advance directives” or “health care directives.” The Advance Directive program utilized by Sierra Vista Regional Health Center follows Arizona law.

Most people communicate their health care directives by completing Advance Directive forms tailored to make prompt decisions about treatment choices. Before you complete these or other health care forms, you should learn and think about what medical treatments you want or do not want in the future. Discuss your choices with your family, loved ones, physician, or spiritual advisor. Also, consider whom you want to appoint to make treatment decisions for you if you cannot speak for yourself. Although you cannot anticipate all the medical situations that may arise, you can give guidance to your decision-maker, doctor, and family as to your values and choices, so they can respect your wishes if a time comes when you cannot make or express decisions for yourself.

It is not necessary to have Advance Directives prior to surgery or hospitalization. However, if you are admitted and decide that you would like to formulate your Advance Directives, our social workers can help you complete the necessary forms or we can supply you with the information upon your discharge.

If you need assistance with making decisions or understanding Advance Directives process, please contact our Social Workers at 417-3241, or email Joe Santos at Joe.Santos@svrhc.org

Community Resource Information
1. Adult Protective Services 1-877-767-2385
2. Child Protective Services 1-888-767-2445
3. Meals on Wheels 803-3903

4. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK

Informative Websites
www.state.az.us (State of Arizona)
www.hs.state.az.us/als/ltc/index.htm (Arizona Department of Health Services)
www.hs.state.az.us/als/ltc/index.htm (Arizona Nursing and Long Term Care facilities.
www.azag.gov (Arizona Attorney General)

www.dgcenter.org (Advance Directives)

www.infoseaz.org/directories.htm (Directories of Human and Social Services for SE Arizona)