Muljibhai Patel Urological Hospital, Nadiad

Dr Teri Browne, Social Worker, USA delivered a Guest Lecture at MPUH Nadiad

Dr. Sujata Rajapurkar, Medical Social Worker and Transplant Coordinator, MPUH Nadiad, organized a Guest Lecture by Dr.Teri Browne, PhD on 11 June 2012 at the JPAC auditorium. Dr.Browne, a Certified Nephrology Social Worker, HIV Test Counselor & Certified Rape Crisis Counselor, currently is an Assistant Professor at the University of South Carolina College of Social Work, USA. She is serving as a member in more than 30 Organizations, Journals, and as an Editorial board member of the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) Consensus Conference. She is also an editor of “Handbook of Health Social Work” which is a very comprehensive reference book for Health Social Workers. Dr. Sujata Rajapurkar in her welcome speech informed that like everywhere else in the world, India is also experiencing an epidemic of Chronic Kidney Disease. Nephrology Social Workers empower patients to cope through counselling & education. Dr. Sujata Rajapurkar has addresses issues of kidney disease patients at national & international meetings. The role of Social Worker & Transplant Co-ordinator in facilitating kidney transplant is like an axis of the wheel of multidisciplinary transplant team by constantly sharpening his / her skills in helping the patients.

Students and Faculties of various schools of social work of Anand and Vallabh Vidya Nagar, namely Department of Social Work-Sardar Patel University, Anand Institute of Social Work, N.S. Patel Arts College, Institute of Language Studies and Applied Sciences (IILSAS) actively participated. Sixty Students and ten distinguished faculty members along with Doctors, Para-medical Staff and the Medical Social Workers from other hospitals attended the lecture. Dr. Browne spoke about “How Nephrology Social Workers can Help Improve Patient Outcomes”. She observed that patients who suffer from kidney failure of this region must be having very tough time to adhere to fluid restrictions due to excessive heat. Dr. Browne emphasized upon many psychosocial barriers to patient outcomes. She identified ten important Nephrology Social Work tasks : patient education, evaluation and assessment, group work, constant team collaboration, case management, assist patients with obtaining maximum rehabilitative status, emotional support and counseling, in-service education, quality assurance & patient advocacy. Medical Social Workers can help interdisciplinary team in addressing the barriers and help improve patients outcomes. Dr. Teri Browne was felicitated by MPUH’s Medical Director & Managing Trustee Dr. Mahesh Desai. Dr. Sishir Gang Chairman of Department of Nephrology in his speech appreciated the contribution of Medical Social Work & Transplant co-ordinators in the treatment of patients suffering from kidney diseases. The program concluded with the vote of thanks by Asst. Medical Social Worker Mrs. Jincy Sibu. The audience had a very interesting interactive session with Dr.Teri Browne.