There is no typical day for Farrah Jamal, a medical social worker at Vancouver General Hospital, which is just the way she likes it.
“A) I like to be challenged, B) I like to be crazy busy, and C) I like to go home and feel satisfied with what I accomplished in my day,” says Jamal.
She works on an Ortho Trauma/Reconstructive Orthopaedics ward and once a week in the hospital’s pre-admission clinic.
The majority of her patients in Reconstructive Orthopaedics are having elective hip or knee surgery. Another major of her role is on diagnosing tumours.
As a social worker, Jamal is part of an interdisciplinary team that usually includes doctors, nurses, occupational therapists, and physiotherapists. She says her role in the team is diverse and changes from day to day.
Jamal’s Career As A Social Worker
Her days usually start with a huddle. This is where she and her team members discuss newly admitted patients, ongoing cases and potential discharges. In her office she prepares herself to meet with patients and families. The overall objective of her role is to focus on patient quality care and safety. She enjoys treating clients with dignity while helping them to find a sense of independence.
“I’m a very hand’s on person and task-oriented. I approach my day from the perspective of, ‘How can I accomplish the most and make the biggest impact with my time?’”
Jamal’s job can include liaising with WorkSafe BC or ICBC, or consulting the Public Guardian and Trustee in cases of abuse and neglect, helping people find financial assistance, and referrals, as well as the toughest of all – having to assist with relocating a patient to a nursing home.
Different Types of Care
Sometimes she will introduce patients to an advance care planning program called “My Voice”. This makes a patient’s wishes clear in case they become non-verbal and unable to self-advocate.
One woman in her 50s had battled cancer, had a liver transplant and was not interested in heroics to keep her alive. She asked Jamal how she could make her wishes known. Jamal talked to her about “My Voice.”
If a patient is spiritual, Jamal may refer them to spiritual care. She provides counselling for patients and their family members, if there is a death, she can help families through it.
On Jamal’s ward a typical patient may go to a transitional care unit, Holy Family Rehab or they are sent home. If a patient indicates to Jamal of any unease at the thought of going home alone, she may recommend home care services like Classic LifeCare.
“The best part of my job is when someone says thank you. I may feel I did a good job or made an impact on someone, but when I get a thank you, it validates the job I did.”
The other perk of being a Social Worker is helping someone genuinely in need.
The hardest parts of the job are dealing with the death of a patient, lack of financial resources for those really in need, seeing a grown man cry and trying to leave work at work without bringing the emotions home.
“A lot of the people I see are dealing with some pretty big things; loss of health, loss of independence, loss of limbs. It’s a difficult time for people and I try to ensure they are treated with dignity.”
One of her first patients was a 99-year-old man who she instantly bonded with and felt a strong connection to. He passed away, which presented Jamal with her first major challenge as a social worker – dealing with death.
She recalls recently struggling with an emotional case involving a 19-year old patient who came to VGH and was diagnosed with over a dozen tumors in his body. He was working on his singing career and won the hearts of everyone on the unit. She said he felt like a big part of the ward by the time he was transferred to another hospital.
“There are some sad cases that stay with you long after the patient has moved on.”
Jamal plans to work towards a Masters in Health and Leadership.
“I would like to be a voice for the people who are not able to speak. To make changes to some of the policies and procedures to help someone. I think a good leader always has patient quality care and safety at the base of all decisions.”
In the meantime, Jamal finds fulfillment doing fundraising and event planning for social work events. She enjoys time with her dog at home, travels, and welcomes the next big challenge.
