Moffitt’s Social Work Team Shows Commitment to Patients’ Mental Health
Each day before work, Alexis Youdelman typically follows the same routine. First, she sips her morning fuel: strong coffee and creamer sweetened with hints of sugar cookie. Next, on her morning drive, she listens to her audiobook of the month to pass the time. But that routine quickly ends once she clocks in and starts the workday because, as Youdelman has learned, no two days are the same.
As a social worker at Moffitt Cancer Center assigned to the Urgent Care Clinic, Youdelman personally encounters around 60 to 100 patients per month. Each patient Youdelman encounters has his or her own diagnosis, unique health issues and personal story.
“We are available as part of their care plan team to process through some of those difficult emotions and those big decisions that need to be made,” Youdelman said.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as many as 3 of every 4 people with cancer experience symptoms of psychological distress. Social workers at Moffitt, like Youdelman, ensure that each patient is aware of the center’s available resources listed below.
Support Groups
Support groups provide a safe place to talk about issues related to cancer and to make connections with other patients. Moffitt offers support groups for patients with any cancer diagnosis and friends and family members affected by cancer, covering topics such as metastatic breast cancer and head and neck cancer education. The newest addition to Moffitt is a virtual session available for anyone who has had ostomy surgery.
Integrative Medicine
Along with physical needs, Moffitt’s Integrative Medicine unit incorporates emotional, social, mental and spiritual influences into a patient’s care plan. These benefits include massage therapy, acupuncture, gentle yoga and meditation.
Supportive Care Medicine
Moffitt’s Supportive Care Medicine team includes psychiatrists, internists, clinical psychologists and other supportive care professionals. The program can provide options such as nutritional counseling, palliative care and behavioral medicine services.
Arts in Medicine Program
Arts in Medicine’s services includes weekday access to an art studio located at the Magnolia Campus, as well as at the Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation Outpatient Center at McKinley. The Arts in Medicine team also provides bedside visits to meet directly with patients as they undergo treatment.
AYA: Adolescent and Young Adult Program
Moffitt’s Adolescent and Young Adult Program is available for patients between the ages of 15 and 39. According to the National Cancer Institute, around 84,000 adolescents and young adults in the United States will be diagnosed with cancer in 2024. The program’s mission is to educate patients and survivors about age-specific resources. In addition to the program’s team of experts, the AYA Lounge is available on the fourth floor of the Magnolia hospital for patients in the program and their loved ones. The lounge has magazines, card games, gaming devices and more.
Whether it is watching a patient create a meaningful relationship through a support group or seeing a patient’s face light up as they create a piece of art from their bedside, Youdelman holds on to each of those milestones and moments. “When we are meeting people, it is at a very pivotal moment in their lives and we are so lucky to be able to stand by them and help them through the biggest days of their lives,” she said.
The Social Work Department can be reached at 813-745-8407. Patients can also contact their clinic and ask a member of the care team both inpatient and outpatient to connect them with their social worker.
