Ethical practices.

Clyde Lukke voluntarily entered Sunnyside Psychiatric Hospital on Wednesday afternoon. He complained of severe depression and was afraid that he might commit suicide. The admitting psychiatrist diagnosed his case as depression, recurrent. The usual treatment at Sunnyside for this diagnostic category is two to three weeks hospitalization, followed by long-term intensive individual therapy and medication. Five days after admission, Angela Mennikke, the floor social worker, was notified by the business office to prepare the patient for discharge. Ms. Mennikke was surprised since discharge orders are usually discussed by the floor staff before they are entered. Rarely is discharge an administrative decision. Upon inquiry she learned that Mr. Lukke’s HMO benefits are limited to one week of psychiatric hospitalization. She also learned that this HMO, like many similar organizations, reimburses only for time-limited group therapy, not for individual therapy. Should the social worker prepare a routine discharge and let the HMO staff worry about how to help Mr. Lukke? Or should she take an advocate stance to ensure that Mr. Lukke will get the treatment he needs? What is expected in this situation from a professional social worker who wants to engage in ethical practice?

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The social worker in this case should take an advocate stance to ensure that Mr. Lukke will get the treatment he needs. This is expected of a professional social worker who wants to engage in ethical practice.

Social workers have a professional obligation to promote the well-being of their clients and to advocate for their rights. In this case, Mr. Lukke’s HMO is limiting his access to needed treatment. The social worker should advocate for Mr. Lukke by:

  • Talking to Mr. Lukke about his options and helping him to develop a plan for getting the treatment he needs.
  • Contacting the HMO and explaining Mr. Lukke’s situation. The social worker should advocate for the HMO to extend Mr. Lukke’s hospitalization and to cover the cost of individual therapy.

Full Answer Section

  • If the HMO is unwilling to budge, the social worker should help Mr. Lukke to find other resources for getting the treatment he needs. This may include contacting a community mental health center or applying for financial assistance.

The social worker should not simply prepare a routine discharge and let the HMO staff worry about how to help Mr. Lukke. This would be unethical because it would put Mr. Lukke’s health and well-being at risk.

Here are some specific steps the social worker can take to advocate for Mr. Lukke:

  • Meet with Mr. Lukke to assess his needs and develop a treatment plan. This plan should be based on Mr. Lukke’s individual needs and preferences, as well as the recommendations of the admitting psychiatrist.
  • Contact the HMO and explain Mr. Lukke’s situation. The social worker should emphasize the severity of Mr. Lukke’s depression and the need for continued hospitalization and individual therapy.
  • Request a meeting with the HMO’s medical director to discuss Mr. Lukke’s case. The social worker should be prepared to present evidence of Mr. Lukke’s need for care, such as the admitting psychiatrist’s diagnosis and treatment plan.
  • If the HMO is unwilling to extend Mr. Lukke’s hospitalization or cover the cost of individual therapy, the social worker should help Mr. Lukke to find other resources for getting the treatment he needs. This may include contacting a community mental health center, applying for financial assistance, or appealing the HMO’s decision.

The social worker should also document all of their interactions with the HMO and Mr. Lukke. This documentation will help to protect the social worker if the HMO takes any retaliatory action.

By taking an advocate stance, the social worker can help to ensure that Mr. Lukke gets the treatment he needs to recover from his depression.

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