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THE MEDICAL SOCIAL WORKER IN THE CORONARY CARE UNIT
Author(s) -
McGrath Frances J.,
Robinson James S.
Publication year - 1973
Publication title -
medical journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1326-5377
pISSN - 0025-729X
DOI - 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1973.tb130014.x
Subject(s) - coronary care unit , rehabilitation , myocardial infarction , unit (ring theory) , medical unit , unemployment , social work , medical care , medicine , medical emergency , physical therapy , family medicine , psychology , psychiatry , mathematics education , economic growth , economics
Seventy patients with their first myocardial infarction were followed for six months by a medical social worker attached to the coronary care unit of the Perth Medical Centre. Before infarction 42 patients were engaged in competitive employment and 36 (86%) of these subsequently returned to their work in a period of high unemployment. Psychological problems during and after the illness were common, and although they did not prevent return to work, except in 2 patients, they did cause discomfort in the patient and his family. Complete rehabilitation requires effective treatment of these emotional reactions and for this reason a medical social worker within the coronary care unit is invaluable.