The MNI's founder, Dr. Wilder Penfield, recognised the important interaction of biological, psychological, social, environmental and spiritual needs in determining good health. This holistic approach to patients continues at the Neuro.
Social workers assist patients who have a variety of neurological illnesses.
Social workers engage in the early screening assessment of patients and their families who are at high social risk. Neuro social workers see patients on their first day of admission, including families in the Intensive Care Unit. Faced with acute neurological diseases that are complex and rare, patients and families appreciate the involvement of social workers who provide crisis intervention, adjustment counselling, teaching and casework coordination. Neuro social workers are knowledgable about the variety of resources available to assist their patients and families. The Neuro Department of Social Work is a McGill teaching department with two or three social work students completing their field training each academic year.