Social work services for radiation therapy patients and their families

A social worker helps meet the social and emotional needs of cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy at the University of Utah Medical Center and the needs of their families. He makes personal contact with the patient and family on their first visit to the radiation division, answers questions, provides information on community services, and generally lets the patient and family know that they can call on him any time during the treatment process. He also follows up patients who are still seriously ill after treatment, and tries to maintain periodic contact with families of patients who have died.