Developing a Social Service Department in a Rural General Hospital

A social work consultant from a community mental health center developed a social service department in a small rural general hospital. Many hospital staff members resisted the idea initially, but after taking part in orientation and training sessions and patient interviews, their resistance decreased; another factor was the interest of a staff nurse whom the consultant trained as a social work assistant. Referrals and consultation requests from the hospital and its long-term-care unit increased, and the department is now an integral part of the hospital program.