2024 has been a productive year for the VSMMC Medical Social Services, stepping out of our comfort zone and daring to do things differently. Here's a shortlist of activities under our belt:
- Feb 12 - 6th Year Anniversary sa VSMMC Malasakit Center: Mga Kadaugan og Kalampusan nga Nakab-ot
- Feb 14 - "Love, PAHS" Flower Sale with Serenade, thank you for sharing your musical talents with Guitar and Violin and beautiful angelic nightingale voices.
- March 19 - BUEN VIVIR means living well, living in harmony. Happy World Social Work Day!
- June 21 - Ms. Mergin Acido, Gawad Parangal ng Natatanging Pagkilala sa Huwarang Manggagawang Panlipunan by the Department of Social Welfare and Development and ASEAN Social Work Consortium-Philippines during the 6th Filipino Social Work Day
- JUNE 28 - Filipino Social Work Day
- JULY - CPAHS Best Practices Presentation HIM, MSS
- AUGUST 20 - Hospital Week 2024 for daring to be different with BEST FILM in the Short Film-Showing, Pinoy Games and Barrio Fiesta with Bayle
- OCT 30 - National Day of Charity
- NOV 12 - Wellness Campaign for Youth
I prepare ten (10) bullet points on why I think this is still the best office of this institution. The social workers and social welfare assistants of the Medical Social Services have the following characteristics:
1. LEADERSHIP WITH TRUST. When I first started working with the MSS, Mergin Acido did not like me. But she didn't have to like me. She just needed to respect me enough to follow. I reviewed the organizational structure of the MSS and saw that there were only two leaders (Mergin and Ruth), so I gave her an ultimatum - to choose four (4) leaders to develop. If she didn't choose by the deadline I set, I would choose the leaders for her. That was our first face off, which was just as well because when the MSS team grew in size and number, it was easier to manage the manpower complement when certain management tasks could already be delegated to the unit heads.
Delegate tasks to your leaders. But first, train them to be like you. This is successor generation, when we develop your mini-me while allowing them to discover their own uniqueness. Empowered deputy, unit and cluster heads. Nobody is indispensable so everyone should be capable of taking over anytime, for the continuity of the section.
2. ONE VISION. The staff of MSS are indoctrinated to focus on the same goal, guided by the same North star: our patients. The work of the MSS is patient-centered, as it should be. Planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. Row the same boat in the same direction. Teamwork makes the dream work. If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together. The MSS is aligned with the VSMCC emblem to grow deeper and go higher to achieve impacts of better health outcomes, responsive healthcare systems and access to all levels of care. The MSS is also aligned with the DOH 8-point action agenda of "bawat Pilipino, bawat komunidad at bawat healthcare worker dahil sa Bagong Pilipinas, bawat buhay mahalaga."
3. PROMOTION and COMMUNICATION. Pakighimamat, Mag-Istorya 'Ta! is a breakthrough, providing medical social workers with a platform to express their emotions, feelings and to renew their purpose. Atty Panugaling taught us that "Performance + Communication = Reputation". Not to brag, but to take accountability and to maintain transparency for the work that we do, the medical social workers communicate with its global audience what it means to be a social worker. When we feel exhausted and burned out, it helps to revisit one's WHYs and refresh on this vocation. Feel good vibes for being in the profession of service as social workers!
4. OBEDIENCE is the best virtue. Work ethics with passion, compassion and competence. Just like the OSM LAW: No reason. No justification. No excuses. No explanation. Just Deliver. There is trust that the leaders can see the bigger picture, but acknowledging that every single person has a role to play to make the whole team function well.
5. MAXIMIZE CONNECTIONS. We find ways! Making connections is an occupational requirement for social workers. The MSS is recognized for it efficient funds utilization and burn rate = CAF, MAIFIP, referral to other funders. Medical social workers find ways to connect its patients and clients with people and organizations who have the resources to assist them. We should strive more to strengthen the network of social workers within the healthcare provider network.
6. PAUSE and BREATHE. Stress debriefing and caring for the carers. I have seen that the MSS set this as a priority. Protect mental health despite stress and DEMANDING excellence and work efficiency. YOU will continue to suffer if you have an emotional reaction to everything that is said to you. True power is RESTRAINT. Breathe and allow things to pass.
7. EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT. Organizational development, capacity building - in-house trainings and providing training for govt social workers, even engaging in research. Medical social workers are sent for training in preparation of the specialty centers and for cross training as well.
8. WALKING THE EXTRA MILE. I've seen how field work for social workers is literally walking for miles, umbrella in hand to protect them from the weather and the elements. Metaphorically, medical social workers also walk the extra mile to look into holistic approach to personal development, reintegrating patients with the family and the community, post-discharge follow up and monitoring, referral and case management.
9. DISRUPTIVE INNOVATION. Corporate service responsibility - going out of our comfort zone and reaching out to where our patients are. The social determinants of health are usually not medical in nature, but more social. This year, the medical social workers dared to go to the community and to schools for wellness campaigns for the youth, and to organize livelihood activities for chronic patients and their significant others. Most of all, medical social workers are not afraid to try new things. Medical social workers are not afraid of change, as it is the only constant in life. Albert Einstein said that doing the same things expecting different outcomes is insanity. We need to keep trying new things until we find the optimal solution to the problems we face.
10. SERVICE. The MSS in all its activities are aligned with VSMMC to impact better health outcomes, responsive health systems and access to all levels of care. The MSS is also aligned with the 8-point action agenda para sa bawat Pilipino, para sa bawat komunidad at para sa bawat healthcare worker. The MSS embodies the mantra "kalidad nga serbisyo among garbo!"
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