Mia's Story as a Social Worker in Care Coordination
I am Mia Tyler, a licensed master social worker in the Care Coordination Department at East Tennessee’s Children's Hospital (ETCH). I moved to Knoxville from Jackson, Michigan in 2021. The South's warm weather and beautiful outdoor scenery are a few of the things that I love about living here. But spending quality time with family and friends is what brings me the most joy.
As a medical social worker, my colleagues and I are the heart of the interdisciplinary team. We work tirelessly to ensure that the patient's care flows smoothly within the hospital to support a safe discharge. My primary role in the department is to provide support, therapeutic interventions, and resource linkage to Hematology/Oncology patients and families. I follow them through their treatment journey, meeting with them regularly when they are admitted to the hospital or in outpatient clinic.
We meet with families to complete a psychosocial assessment that gathers information on a family’s current functioning, established supports, and access to resources. I then use this information to support their physical and mental health. To better support caregivers with the emotional toll of their child’s cancer treatment, I also co-facilitate a Parent Support Group and Grief group on a monthly basis.
As a Social Worker, I believe that Social Determinates of Health are the greatest indicators of health outcomes for children. As part of ETCH’s efforts to address the institutional impact of inequalities in medical care and outcomes for children, I serve as a member of ETCH’s Health Equity Quality & Patient Safety Committee.
To ensure our family’s needs are met, I engage with local organizations to coordinate referrals and provision of community-based services. I am honored to serve as a member of the advisory board for Dream Connection, a non-profit that organizes once-in-a-lifetime dreams for children with life-threatening illnesses.
I am very proud of the work I do at ETCH, as a Hematology/Oncology Social Worker. Please join in with me to celebrate Social Work Month. This year’s national theme is “Empowering Social Workers!”
-- Mia
