Through their collaborative and consultative work, social workers make an impact in many different organizations and human service systems, including the fields of hospice and palliative care. Hospice teams emphasize compassion and quality of life, which blends perfectly with social workers' core principles of helping people, who are often navigating major life challenges, find hope.

'This year's theme of national Social Work Month is 'Social Work Matters' and our organization is a testament to that,' said Kathleen Pacurar, San Diego Hospice President and CEO.

For instance, Pamela Ganser, MSW, a social worker for ten years and a team member with San Diego Hospice for approximately two years, expresses how her job's rewards outweigh its challenges. ''Having the opportunity to use my knowledge and skills as a social worker to help others is extremely rewarding, and so are the countless gifts I receive in return.  These gifts, such as life stories shared, lessons learned, and unique perspectives of life, are intangible and invaluable.'
 
At San Diego Hospice, social workers join nurses, physicians and spiritual counselors to care for a patient's physical, emotional and spiritual needs. Oftentimes, the social worker becomes an integral part of the patient's end of life experience and family's circle of support.

'Our patients and their loved ones are allowing us to enter their lives during an extremely vulnerable time,' said Ganser. 'We strive to fulfill our patients' wishes every day in the work that we do. Some wishes may appear small or ordinary.  However, in the eyes of our patients, they can be monumental.  Because of this, I feel truly honored and proud to call myself a hospice social worker.'
 
About San Diego Hospice and The Institute for Palliative Medicine
San Diego Hospice and The Institute for Palliative Medicine is one of the largest community-owned, not-for-profit hospices in the country, bringing compassionate, expert medical care to more than 1,000 seriously ill adults and children each day throughout San Diego County.  For more information, visit www.sdhospice.org or call toll-free 866-688-1600. Join our online communities on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, YouTube and The Caregiver's Corner blog.