Social worker plays key role on Cardiac Sciences care team

Becky Magee has been an integral part of the Cardiac Sciences team at the Foothills Medical Centre for 28 years. 

A cardiac critical care social worker who works in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit and Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit, she spends her days with patients and their families, providing illness adjustment, coping strategies, education pre op surgery, counselling and lining up individualized resources to ensure the patient’s basic needs are met. 

Those supports and resources range from ensuring patients have medication coverage to finding adequate housing for patients when they are discharged from hospital. 

“Social work is part of the fabric of the hospital, and it’s an area many don’t think about until they need it,” says Magee, who is one of five social workers working in the Department of Cardiac Sciences.  “Our role is necessary to ensure the process flows well from admission to discharge for our patients. Without us, there would be a lot more pressure on the system, patients, and families.” 

Another important part of Magee’s job is to help families prepare for and pick up the pieces after a loss. She also helps her co-workers cope with this often-stressful environment.  

“Losing a family member is such a crucial and difficult time in someone’s life,” says Magee.  “I help the family organize their thoughts and get their plans in place. I try to be the calm in the storm.” 

Besides offering resources, support, information and education, Magee often puts on an investigative hat when tracking down families of patients who are admitted to hospital, especially those patients who are admitted as unidentified.

  “We have tracked down families in interesting ways, from finding a card in the patient’s wallet, to social media, to identifying patients through their tattoos, says Magee. “It is important that we find the patient’s family as soon as possible to help in decision making, medical history and to advise them that their loved one is in hospital in critical condition.”   

Helping patients and their families is Magee’s passion. Being part of a cohesive, solid team that is constantly advancing cardiac care is icing on the cake. 

“Working in this area is a calling,” she says. “I deal with situations that can be difficult to cope with so having a positive working environment is key. I am so lucky to work with people that really want to be here and who are supportive of each other, it has enabled me to stay in this role for 28 years.”