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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Nathan Franco, Social Worker at NYC Health and Hospitals (Harlem Hospital)
2:50:18
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127 sec
Nathan Franco, a social worker at Harlem Hospital, testified about the essential role of social workers in healthcare and the challenges they face with high caseloads. He presented survey results showing that most H+H social workers believe their caseloads are inappropriate and negatively impact the quality of care.
- 97% of surveyed social workers believe quality of care suffers due to high caseloads
- Franco's union (Local 768) is advocating for enforced caseload limits to improve care quality and worker retention
- The potential federal funding cuts to H+H were mentioned as a barrier to addressing these issues
Nathan Franco
2:50:18
Good afternoon, and thank you for hearing us in this testimony, honorable chair and council members.
2:50:25
My name is Nathan Franco.
2:50:26
I'm a social worker at Harlem Hospital where I've worked for fifteen years working on the inpatient medical units to support patients in their transitions out of the hospital to their next level of care, including the orthopedic patients that doctor Katz referred to earlier with the HSS collaboration.
2:50:43
I believe in the work we do.
2:50:45
I take pride in helping my patients have the best possible chance for recovering during recovery during what is often the hardest time of their lives.
2:50:52
Social workers are an essential part of our health care providing both direct patient care, through our our clinical services, as my colleagues, already mentioned, and also helping patients navigate the complex health care systems we have.
2:51:05
Doctor Cass talked about navigation earlier, particularly in regards to cancer care, but it does apply to many other aspects of of the health care system.
2:51:13
Where in these cases, a simple misplaced fax or an unreturned voice mail can lead to devastating consequences as care is not utilized or followed up on, or made available.
2:51:23
Over the past two years, Local seven sixty eight, which I'm a, an officer, has surveyed our members, who are social workers in H and H, to explore how caseload and productivity expectations have impacted quality of care and worker retention, among the other issues that my colleagues had talked about.
2:51:41
The results found that two thirds of of H and H's social workers believe their caseloads are not appropriate, to their and 97% of them believe that the quality of care suffered as a result.
2:51:52
The findings demonstrate an overwhelming agreement across social workers of all assigned areas, that an enforced k limit on caseload would improve quality of care, improve work life balance, and increase the desire to continue serving our city through health and hospitals.
2:52:07
We have initiated discussions with H and H about establishing caseload limits as they have been accomplished for registered nurses, through state staffing legislation.
2:52:15
Though the limited funds available to H and H only made worse by the federal, bill we've all been talking about represents a barrier to
UNKNOWN
2:52:22
Thank you.
2:52:22
Your time expired.
Nathan Franco
2:52:24
Thank you.