a series of panel discussions open to all.

Mrs. Sharol Simmons, who heads the Department of Hospital Social Work, said the week was to recognise clinical social workers' role at the hospitals and their contributions to the Island's community.

March is National Social Work Month in the United States, as designated by the National Association of Social Workers.

The Hospital Social Work Department is staffed by two psychiatric and four medical social workers, each with Masters degrees.

Mrs. Simmons said clinical social workers -- who work in psychiatric and medical environments -- apply social work theory and methods to the treatment and prevention of psycho-social dysfunction, disability or impairment.

Generally, these professionals are trained in hospitals, mental health centres or family practice agencies and are usually employed in similar settings, as well as private practice.

Clinical social work in the Island has come a long way from the initial one-man department, known as the Social Services Department, which was established at KEMH in 1967.

Designed to make medical services available to those who were previously unable to afford private care, the main responsibility of the first social worker was to determine a patient's eligibility for medical and surgical outpatient clinics.

Although medical social workers are no longer charged with this service, the department has continued to grow and take on additional duties, such as counselling those suffering cancer, stroke and Alzheimer's Disease.

It has also become increasingly involved with child abuse, obstetrics, hospice and geriatric care and the screening of "high-risk'' patients.

The results of a recently concluded trial screening programme were discussed at Monday night's presentation, to determine whether the new method of intervention had shortened length of stays in the hospital.

"We've had this trial programme in place for the past six months to try and address the problem of patient discharges,'' Mrs. Simmons explained.

"Some impressive results came out of it, and we're hoping to be able to continue this new programme.

"The focus is really on at what point the patient is referred to the social worker for assistance.'' She explained that under the older system, referrals were often received just prior to their discharge from hospital, when the person was deemed medically fit to leave.

"We would then be faced with a time constraint in trying to resolve problems,'' Mrs. Simmons said. "On this trial programme, we introduced our services at the point the patient was actually admitted to hospital.

"When they come through the admissions office, we use a criteria base to determine whether the person might need a social worker.'' Mrs. Simmons explained that the nine-point base drawn up by her department includes those over 70, those with no fixed abode, patients with chronic or terminal illnesses, those with limited physical abilities or psychological or emotional problems, and cases of suspected child abuse.

The evening social worker collects the forms from admissions, and visits each of the patients personally to determine specific problems.

Mrs. Simmons said on average there are 24 admissions to KEMH a day, 15 of which are screened.

Another worksheet is used to pinpoint the specific problems facing each particular patient.

"Because we screen people, it doesn't necessarily mean they have problems,'' Mrs. Simmons added. "We have to have a system to identify what we call high-risk patients -- patients that are likely going to have problems.'' She explained that may require services following their discharge from hospital, such as medical equipment, or help with meal preparation, personal care, bathing or dressing.

"We try to address these needs prior to the point of discharge, and meet those needs with community resources,'' Mrs. Simmons said.

Treatment has also evolved with the emergence of hospital-based support groups such as the Renal Dialysis Family Support Group, The Bermuda Alzheimer's Family Support Group and the Stroke Support Group.

Bermuda's psychiatric social workers have played an integral role in the care of the mentally ill and handicapped since 1981.

Although originally established to assist the Island's physically and mentally handicapped residents and their families, the department has expanded into other clinical areas.

Services are now available in acute psychiatry, rehabilitation units, and the newly established Child and Adolescent Services.

The mentally handicapped and the psychiatrically ill who reside in the community also receive assistance.

Today's Clinical Social Care Week presentation, addressing hospice care, will take place at St. Brendan's conference room from noon until 1.30 p.m.

Community care and clinical care will be the topic of tomorrow's panel discussion at KEMH's first floor conference room, which begins at 11.30 a.m.

and runs until 1.30 p.m.

The week will finish off with an open house at Medical Social Work offices at Montrose Cottage, Berryhill Road, Paget, on Friday at noon.

TOP TEAM -- From left, Mrs. Sharol L. Simmons, chief, Department of Hospital Social Work, and her team: Mr. Alfred Lewis, Ms Peggy Jackson, Mrs. Janice Hollis, Ms Wendy Park, Ms Connie Simmons, and Ms Jenal Swan. Missing is evening social worker Miss Nichole Whitter.