<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1vLaiB_104ZQfHG00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1vLaiB_104ZQfHG00" width="1200" height="600" >PRESQUE ISLE, Maine (WAGM) - When you think of hospital care, doctors and nurses likely come to mind first. But there’s another key member of the team who helps patients navigate resources and tackle challenging life circumstances. It’s the focus of this week’s Medical Monday with Brian Bouchard. As the sole social worker in the emergency department of Northern Light AR Gould Hospital, Dana-Michelle Laplante says she has seen it all. She’s often the first point of contact when a patient or family needs guidance beyond medical care. “Part of what I do in the ER is it’s almost like a starting point… sometimes families will come in here and they’re at the point where, ‘OK, we don’t know what to do. My loved one is struggling at home—he’s got dementia, we’re concerned about the care… where do we go from here?’ I’m their initial person to go, ‘Alright, what do you have for services? What can we do?‘” Laplante triages a range of non-medical needs—connecting patients with insurance options, specialists, and other community resources. It’s a role that can come as a surprise when she steps into a patient’s room. “People panic when you hear, ‘Hey, I’m a social worker.’ I do try to make sure that I’m connecting with them… who I am and why I’m there… My role is to help you and not do anything that wouldn’t be in your best interest.” She often follows up with patients after discharge, ensuring they connect with primary care and other support, a critical service in Aroostook county where access to resources can be limited. “A lot of what I do too is making sure that I’m trying to get you services so that you can utilize those services more appropriately… so you have somebody you can go to on a regular basis.” Though it’s a big job for a single person, Laplante says she loves helping patients find the right care in the right place. “My job really is to help somebody and to see if there’s something I can do for them… It’s very patient-focused and centered, but also help-centered.” For questions about hospital-based social work services, Laplante encourages patients and families to simply ask for a referral or speak with a nurse. She says the earlier you ask, the easier it can be to get the support you need. </div></body>

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PRESQUE ISLE, Maine (WAGM) - When you think of hospital care, doctors and nurses likely come to mind first. But there’s another key member of the team who helps patients navigate resources and tackle challenging life circumstances. It’s the focus of this week’s Medical Monday with Brian Bouchard.

Medical Monday - Social Work

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PRESQUE ISLE, Maine (WAGM) - When you think of hospital care, doctors and nurses likely come to mind first. But there’s another key member of the team who 

Medical Monday - Social Work

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