Social Workers
Help Patients Along Their Path
Carole Moser, MSW
Froedtert & Medical College of Wisconsin Social Worker,
Hematology Oncology and Radiation Oncology
Carole Moser, a Froedtert & Medical College of Wisconsin Cancer Center social worker, helps patients link to the support and services they need. Even more important, she helps them take charge of their own lives.
Q. What is your role as a social worker?
When people get a diagnosis of cancer, they sometimes tell me, "I don't know what to do now." I help them along their path. I pull together resources to meet their needs.
Q. What kinds of resources can you offer?
Invariably, the person who gets the diagnosis doesn't have any idea what his or her health benefits are. I teach the patient what kinds of questions to ask.
If the patient has no insurance and is not eligible for any assistance, we can work with a financial counselor. I can also help patients with Social Security and Title 19. We have a county-employed Medicaid staff member right here.
Q. Do you make these contacts for patients?
I teach them how to do it, what questions to ask. Cancer patients need control of their own lives, and a lot of people don't want to take control – they're having a hard enough time being told they have cancer.
It sounds like it's all financial. That's part of it, but there's also the emotional part; for example, how to get counseling.
Q. What other ways can you help?
A typical question is, "Can I get my insurance company to pay for the wig?" We actually have donated wigs that I can give patients.
The patient might have special parking needs – I can coordinate that. Patients often need support groups – I can link them up with several. We can help patients with free pharmaceutical assistance, provide an interpreter service and more ... it's always based on the patient's need.