Healthcare social workers accompany customers on their journey
Keywords:A healthcare social worker supports people in their changing and uncertain daily lives. The work is hard, but Miia Kontro’s daily life is balanced by her writing hobby and jazz music, among other things.
Miia Kontro works as a healthcare social worker at HUS and helps customers in finding solutions to everyday challenges in a changing life situation.
Miia Kontro works as a healthcare social worker at the Palliative Care Center in HUS Comprehensive Cancer Center. A versatile education background (PhD in theology, Master of Political Science and Philosophy, Master of Business Administration and dental hygienist) helps in a job that involves many different levels of a customer’s life.
For example, a healthcare social worker assesses the services and benefits a patient needs, provides advice on matters regarding illness, injury, social security and services, and offers psychosocial support.
Big changes in life can be scary
Kontro sees a great deal of loneliness in her work and the resulting need for support.
“Support is vitally important for those who have no one to talk to about life changes and the fears that arise when treatment no longer works and planned treatments are cancelled.”
The transition to palliative care is often frightening. It is therefore important to share information about what palliative care means and what support is available.
“I also make assessments on a person’s coping at home, their support networks and, if necessary, liaise with social services in the wellbeing services counties to ensure that the patient gets the support and services they need.”
Excellent multidisciplinary cooperation
Cooperation with family and relatives is particularly important when working with families with children.
“We have weekly meetings with families who have a parent with cancer. The team includes physicians, nurses, psychologists, and myself. Together, we assess the necessary support measures and the division of tasks.”
Kontro emphasizes the importance of cooperation at the entire HUS level.
“Our team spirit is excellent and our multidisciplinary cooperation is top notch. The emphasis is on our encounters with people and our strong commitment to accompany the customers on their journey.”
A dissertation on loneliness and poems about death–but also something else entirely
In her dissertation, Kontro explores loneliness in an individual-oriented society, particularly in palliative care.
“How do loneliness and lack of support networks manifest themselves in end of life care and how is this recognized–or is it recognized? The lack of support networks is currently not taken into account sufficiently, and at its worst it puts people in an unequal position,” she sums up.
She also writes stories and poetry about death.
Hard work needs something lighter to balance things out. Breaks during the working day always include jazz music, green tea, and chocolate.
“The oncology ward always organizes an afternoon disco session for the staff on Fridays. I can also be spotted at samba carnivals and in a chamber orchestra.”