Doha, 26 Feb 2022: Hamad Medical Corporation, HMC, has organized a special festivity to honor the leadership and staff of the Social Work functions at all HMC Facilities for the extraordinary efforts paid to serve patients and their family members, especially during the (Covid – 19) pandemic.
The festivity, held on Feb.16 at the Millennium Hotel, was attended by Mr. Mahmoud Saleh Al Raisi, Chief of Continuing Care Group at Hamad Medical Corporation, and Dr. Suad Suaidan Al Hamad, Executive Director of HMC’s Social Services Department, and a number of officials and staff from the department.
In a statement at the festivity, Dr. Suad Al Hamad stressed the importance of social work role in extending social and psychological support to patients as well as access to therapeutic services at all points of care facilitated by the Corporation’s Social workers. This role is underpinned by improving patients’quality of life enabling them to access to healthcare services they need”.
“The Social Work Department works hand in hand with multi-disciplinary teams to create a healing environment for patients through social work research whereby patients get the help they need to overcome various challenges, particularly those associated with their ailments and their surrounding conditions.”
“Due to the advancement of healthcare services and the expansion of healthcare facilities in Qatar and to the rising demand for social services, the role of social work has gained more importance at healthcare facilities as they tend to ease the burdens of such facilities through the expedient discharge of recovering patients, in collaboration with stakeholders, to a safe and secure environment. We, at the Social Work Dept. set forth the socio- medical policies and continue to develop such policies on an ongoing basis to have them standardized and aligned with patient needs”, Dr. Suad Al Hamad added.
Ms. Maliha Al Shamali, Deputy Executive Director of HMC’s Social Services Department, pointed out that the role of social workers is pivotal in helping patients subdue impediments they could possibly face because of their ailment, such as not being able to work for to make ends meet or even lose their jobs, which , in turn, would be disruptive to and have adverse impact on patients’ social relationship at home or work . This is where the social work takes the lead as a means to rehabilitate patients, provide with the support they need, and help restore their role as active members within the parameters of their own families and the society as a whole.
“Patients who are not economically able to cover some of their healthcare expenses may get financial assistance, through HMC’s Social Work Dept direct and indirect coordination with community NGOs (such as charitable organizations), Ms. Maliha Al Shamali added.
During the event, which witnessed a large audience of participants, certificates of appreciation were distributed to honored members from the social work circle.
Among the honored members was Mr. Mohammad Othman, Acting Head of Social Work Dept. at Hamad General Hospital, who stated that the Department is keen to organize events where patients are engaged in social and other activities throughout the year as part of HMC’s commitment to provide safe, compassionate, and effective healthcare services to all patients. The Department saves no effort in providing patients, especially children, with psychological and social support in dedicated events such as marking the World Pediatric Kidney Day during which recreational activities are organized for children where guests are provided with healthy foods and gifts. These events are usually sponsored by various social work organizations in Qatar in partnership with HMC’s Social Work Dept.
Ms. Zahra Darwish, Acting Head of Social Work Dept. at HMC’s Women Wellness and Research Center, commented on the vital role of female social workers in extending valuable services to outpatients and inpatients at the Center. Such services include extending emotional support to patients and help them get over stress and anxiety associated with Covid – 19 epidemic. She expressed thankfulness to social workers and the Corporate Social Dept.
Mr. Jabir Al Jabiri, Acting Head of Social Work Dept. at HMC’s Hazm Mebaireek General Hospital, commented on the prominent role of social workers during Covid – 19 epidemic and sharing the commitment of providing support to all patient groups and their family members, particularly in the social and psychological domains, thus enabling them to endure the hardships and repercussions associated with Covid – 19 epidemic. He also underlined the role of social workers in collaborating with other HMC Departments to help patients overcome the negative impact of the pandemic.
In a comment on the role of Social Worker in a medical setting, Ms. Najat Al Kubaisi, Head of Social Work Dept. at HMC’s Al Khor Hospital, said:” Our role as social workers is to help patients access the therapeutic treatment they need at HMC and provide them and their family members with the support needed to surmount the stress and anxiety concomitant with their physical or psychological morbidities. We, at Al Khor Hospital, provide all relevant social work services to all patients, the labor force in particular, in collaboration with charitable organizations and facilitate the repatriation of patients who wish to leave the country”.
Mr. Ibrahim Al Ansari, Head of Social Work Dept. at HMC’s Qatar Rehabilitation Center, stated that social workers carry out a vital and essential role in the continuum of healthcare where they function as a direct contact between patients, their family members, and attending doctors by providing social information about the patients which may have a direct impact on the patients’ treatment plans.
Social workers also perform other duties such as arranging meets with patients’ family members to ensure that the patient's treatment plan is clearly explained, and progress made in the treatment process, in addition to helping patients get over the difficulties they may face and provide them with the needed social support.
Mr. Mohammad Al Obaidli, Head of Social Work Dept. at HMC’s Heart Hospital, commented on the special expertise that social workers need to be able to deal with heart patients, both outpatients and inpatients, stating that heart disease treatment takes a long time and, consequently, these workers have to give patients require a great deal of advice, social, and psychological support for a lengthy period of time in order to rid patients and their family members of associated stress and anxiety as well as attenuating patients’ social and financial hardships which may affect the continuity of healthcare provided to them.
During the festivity, Dr. Suad Al Hamad expressed thankfulness to officials at HMC social work departments, including Mr. Abdul Rahman Al Sahli, Head of Social Work Dept. at Wakra Hospital, Ms. Haya Al Mraikhi, Head of Social Work Dept. at Rumaila Hospital, Mr. Ibrahim Al Marhoon, Head of Social Work Dept. at Communicable Disease Center, Ms. Ibtihal Mursi, Head of Social Work Dept. at Home Healthcare Services, Ms. Muna Al Sayyed, Head of Social Work Dept. at Dukhan Hospital, and all social workers for their continued dedication to serving patients.
