Social service at DEA: experience in Mauriziano Hospital, Turin

This work-report presents the findings of the activities carried out by the Social Service at DEA through the five-year period 2002- 2006; the presence of the Social Worker at the DEA was essential in the hours immediately after the clients’ admittance to Casualty, where the Social Welfare Service were able to provide prompt assistance. The targets were to provide clients an emergency service and to assure the quickest possible solution through taking immediate action. This Service has been used by 877 clients, 80,5% of whom were over 65 years of age; was provided by 2 Social Workers; altogether, a total of 1370 actions of various kinds were carried out. In evaluating the experience in global terms, the results have been more than positive for both targets; in particular, one must underline that, 54,5% of the cases a solution to each single problem was found directly at DEA, thereby allowing the patient to be discharged in safety, without burdening Casualty and DEA with the need for hospitalisation.