Abdulrahman Khalid BoAli the Director of the Social Service Medical Department in King Fahad University Hospital in Al Khobar which is affiliated with the University of Dammam mentioned that “The department completed 3692 activities during 1436 A.H such as social proceedings, scientific research, cases transferred from the Medical Social Services or transferred to the department and every service or activity is divided into detailed proceedings that was dealt with and has been provided with social services." This was during the opening of the introduction to social work which was organized by the medical social service department in King Fahad University Hospital in Al Khobar on Tuesday the 5th of January 2016, sponsored by the Director of the hospital Dr. Khalid Al Otaibi, and held in the hospital halls in order to introduce the importance of social workers in helping patients.
BoAli added that “Social work aims at helping patients to overcome their problems by defining the problem, understanding its reasons then contributing in forming a work plan in order for the social worker to professionally intervene and to achieve the treatment, preventive, and rehabilitation goals. The social worker has an important role in accordance to patients either in the in-patients departments, the out-patients clinics, or in the Emergency room. The social worker deals with a number of different patients who are transferred to them for different reasons such as; patients who refuse treatment, patients who do not stick to the treatment plan, patients who are frightened from their results, those who are in need of rehabilitation before treatment like who need an amputation, also, patients who do not believe in the importance of hospitals and medical treatment as well as many other cases. Therefore, it is important for us to continuously enlighten the community on the importance of social work.
Dr. Hanan Al Ghamdi the Assistant Medical Director in King Fahad University in Al Khobar mentioned that “Social workers are essential and effective members of the medical team who deal with patients and cases. They are indispensable members of the health care process in hospitals therefore, hospital administrations support social workers because they are included in the patients’ evaluation of the hospital. The social service department has a wide range of experience in dealing with various cases, they are continuously in contact with social agencies and charity associations which help in making their job easier in fields such as; domestic violence, family and social problems, and some individual issues such as; addiction, disabilities, and financial crisis.
Dr. Mohamed Al Jamean the Director of the Medical Supportive Services pointed out that "The main goal of this activity is to introduce people to the definition and the importance of social workers. Also, that the Medical Social Service department in the University of Dammam has a long history in providing services for its patients.
