Common Assignment:  Final Paper on a Case

Minimum:  10 pages,  Maximum: 12 pages

Students will choose a case with whom they have worked. Students who don’t have a case will be assigned one by the instructor. You can make up a case with a patient from working in the emergency department. No need to make up names, address the patient as “patient”

1.            Provide a description of the case that includes:

a.          the patient (sociodemographic characteristics, health (diagnoses, functional level), and psychosocial factors;

b.          the family (state the family members involved with this patient and their care, any important information about the family members)’

c.          the health providers involved with the patients and/or family, including the social worker.

2.               Describe the patient’s health problem(s). For the most serious illness or the one that is most important to address, provide a brief description of the illness (symptoms and typical illness trajectory); the prevalence of this illness in the general population; the population groups that are most affected by this illness (gender, age, ethnic minority, SES, etc.) and the bio-psychosocial risk factors for this illness.  2 pages max

3.               Describe the psychosocial issues relevant for this case, including any cultural or religious/spiritual considerations.

4.               Include each of the following:

a.              Assessment: What additional assessments should be obtained in order to develop or revise a treatment plan for this patient and family?

b.              Treatment Plan: Based on what is currently known, what treatment plan do you propose? Why do you think this treatment would best fit your clients’ needs? What is your primary focus when formulating the initial treatment plan? Consider immediate and on-going needs of the individual. Describe the initial interventions for this case and discuss areas of focus. This may include crisis stabilization, compliance, grief and loss, education, etc. Is this an evidence-based intervention? If so, what is the evidence supporting its use? If not which evidence-based intervention would be useful for this case and why?  How did you or would you manage the patient system avoidance or non-adherence effectively during the course the treatment?

c.              Resources Coordination: What resources should you be presenting to the individual/family? Consider both immediate and long-term needs.