Social Services Phone: (213) 413-3000 ext. 4175

The Social Services department assists all patients with emotional, social and economic problems related to their health care. The department's mission is to provide consultation to family members, caregivers, and significant others to ensure ongoing support vital to a patients well being.

The department's staff members are specially trained to provide patient services but to also educate and consult with all members of the medical center's health care team in matters of patient care to ensure that each patient's biopsychosocial needs are met.

Special focus and attention are given to patients and families who are high risk for problems of adjustments, safety, economic hardship, life threatening illness and other severe psychosocial stressors related to health condition. A few reasons patient's may need Social Services include:

• Acute grieving, depression, anxiety
• Suicidal/Homicidal ideation, gravely disabled
• No known family or support system
• Victims of abuse, physical/emotional/sexual/neglect/violence by caretakers
• Family behavior adversely affecting patient welfare and care
• Older adults (70+) with multiple physical and psychosocial needs
• Homelessness
• Substance abuse

To better enable Social Services, it helpful for patients or their care team to know what services the patient needs for a safe discharge. It is best to have a family member to assist patients if they are unable to provide information about their post-hospital-care location. Social Services is available to ease patient transitions from one level of care to another. Patients and caregivers should never be afraid to ask for help. Simply call Social Services at (213) 413-3000 ext. 4175.