I READ with much dismay and sadness about the murder of a social worker during a home visit ("Social worker slain; client charged," City & Region, Feb. 8). Some lessons need to be learned to avoid such tragedies in the future.
Notwithstanding the comments from Carol Trust, executive director of the Massachusetts chapter of the National Association of Social Workers, home visits during times of mental health crises are in fact dangerous work. One does not know what awaits on the other side of the door. You are on someone else's turf. You are alone. There is much risk attached to these visits.
Because of this risk, such visits often are made by two clinicians. This does not prevent tragedy, but it does provide a modicum of safety and some control to the clinicians in such a situation.
However, insurers often reimburse for only one of the staff. So the provider is faced with the dilemma of how to balance safety with financial loss.
The danger inherent in such crises must be acknowledged by the professional associations that purport to represent social workers.
And insurers who find it cheaper to serve children and families outside of hospitals and group homes must be pressured to reimburse providers for the true cost of the service and the human cost of sending someone into a home alone during a crisis.
A. BERNS, Brookline
The writer is a social worker.
