Medical Social Work Services, Inc. is a  social service agency dedicated to maximizing self-sufficiency and prolonging independence of older individuals during later years of life.

We are specialists in geriatric care planning, service delivery, and elder care consultation.  We have developed more care plans for more patients, under contract with more service  providers, and in consultation with more physicians than any other provider of similar services in South Florida.  (For more information about our history and experience click > Elder Care & > Medicare Home Health)

Goals 

• To provide the best possible direct geriatric care planning services to:

  • Medicare Home Health Patients

  • Private Clients

  • Pro Bono Clients

• To champion improvements in social conditions affecting elderly Americans thru effective utilization of existing resources by:   

  • Enabling full implementation of  the Social Service component of the Medicare Home Health Program. 

  • Identifying and posing solutions to eliminate bureaucratic barriers  inhibiting access to resources intended to prolong independence and  maintain quality of life. 

  • Contributing to the training and education of geriatric care specialists by partnering with an accredited university to provide a "hands on" learning experience through a Medicare Home Health Field Practicum.

  • Providing a model for the delivery of Medicare Home Health Social Services, which:

    • produces measurable long term outcome measures demonstrative of the numerous benefits to the patient and the public of  home based health care services.

    • improves the efficiency and effectiveness of home health providers committed to patient centered management

    • leads to viable career opportunities for professional social workers specializing in  Medicare Home Health services

(For more information about our strategic plan to improve social conditions affecting elders, click > Advocacy & > Public Policy Issues).

Administration 

Developed and managed by John R. Ashcraft, MSW, ACSW, a professional social worker  with a wide range of clinical and administrative  experience, Medical Social Work Services, Inc.'s employees are fully licensed, bonded, and insured.  All professional staff are W-2 employees.

Our patient centered approach to agency management is reflected in operational policies and procedures which facilitate the integration of  Social Work into the Medicare Home Health Program, as envisioned by the Federal Law.  Developed over a period of years and specifically tailored to the unique demands of home based health care, our approach to management provides a supportive environment for social workers who traditionally work as sole practitioners.   (For more information about our approach to elder care click   > Model Program) 

Geriatric Care Specialists

The education and experience of our professional staff reflect a  Social Work orientation to geriatric care.  Our comprehensive care plans are complete in attention to all needs (health and social), thereby maximizing  potential for prolonging self sufficiency and enhancing quality of life. (For more information about our approach to geriatric care click > Elder Care Planning/Management   & > Medicare Home Health)

Education 

Our geriatric specialists hold degrees from accredited universities and include: Master Degree Social Workers, Licensed Clinical Social Workers, Geriatric Care Specialists (Masters), and Bachelor Degree Social Workers.  

Experience / Links to Community

Our professional staff have a combined employment experience of more than 100 years with more than 50 social service and health care providers in our six county service area, including: 30 Medicare Certified Home Health Agencies, County Councils on Aging,  The  Department of Elder Affairs, The Mental Health Center, The  Department of Children and Families, Nursing Homes,  Psychiatric Hospitals, School Boards, and Community Hospitals.

Executive Director - Experience & Training

John Ashcraft, MSW, ACSW  

Education

BA Psychology, Masters Social Work, 2 years of law school, and Administration & Financial Management Diplomas from The National Institute of Mental Health Staff College 

Areas of Specialization 

Geriatric Care Planning and Services, Organizational Development and Management, Organizational Change, Policy Implementation

Clinical Experience   

Protective Services Investigator, Juvenile Court Counselor, VA Hospital   Medical Social Worker, General and Psychiatric Hospital Psychiatric Social Worker, Mental Health Center Adolescent Clinician, Marriage and Family Counselor (Private Practice), Nursing Home Medical Social Worker, Medicare Home Health Medical Social Worker, Geriatric Care Planning/Management Specialist

Teaching Experience

Adjunct Instructor, Stetson University.  Assistant Professor, Graduate School of Social Work, Florida State University

Administrative Experience  (Asterisk  denotes CEO or Administrator)

Juvenile Court,* Community Mental Heath Center,* Psychiatric Hospital,* State Mental Health Program Office (Baker Act & Gerontology), Statewide Association for Community-based Mental Health & Substance Abuse Agencies,* Commercial Real Estate Project,*  Nursing Home, Home Health Agency,  Social Service Agency* (MSWS, Inc.)

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Contact Us

Medical Social Work Services, Inc.

1745 Binney Drive, Ft. Pierce, FL  34949

 

E-Mail  JohnAshcraftMSW@bellsouth.net

           Phone / Fax  (772) 467-0709