Fighting the opioid epidemic in hospitals nationwide, one patient at a time.
LCSs are integrated members of healthcare teams who fight the American opioid epidemic by providing alternative pain management and mental wellness solutions for patients in need.
The Life Care Specialist’s Role in Hospitals:
Educate patients about opioid risk, appropriate medication tapering, proper disposal, and signs of overdose.
Provide behavioral pain management resources, including mental wellness techniques and resilience tactics.
Facilitate care coordination by advocating for patient needs.
Healing Wheel
Healing comes in dozens of forms depending on the patient’s situation, history, and particular needs. LCSs build a custom care plan for every patient so healing can take place in mind, body, and spirit.
LCSs teach non-pharmacological pain management techniques and work with each patient to craft a pain management plan.
LCSs serve on patient care teams alongside doctors and nurses. It is an honor to partner with hospitals that recognize the invaluable presence of Life Care Specialists.
Life Care Specialists begin their careers through the Mercer School of Medicine accredited certification.
Learn how just one LCS can change hundreds of lives through education, prevention, and support.
EducationThrough the Mercer School of Medicine, the LCS training program provides comprehensive education on opioid addiction and treatment, evidence-based pain management techniques, and trauma-informed mental wellness skills.
PracticumUpon course completion, LCSs receive on-the-floor training at Grady Hospital in Atlanta and training in their local hospital environment from a senior LCS trainer.
AdvocacyCustomized care plans and advocacy for every patient help LCSs take steps toward more education and prevention for the opioid epidemic.
Hospital partnerships are crucial for a successful LCS program. CWC is dedicated to supporting LCSs as our hospital partners provide on-the-ground leadership and support. As a result, LCSs provide relief for existing hospital staff and support patients in crisis.
Departments
Examples of departments LCSs service are orthopedics, internal medicine, palliative care, sickle cell, and oncology. Based on where your hospital needs support, LCSs adapt to where they are needed most.
Leadership
Engagement from your hospital’s C-suite leaders is crucial to the success of your LCS and partnership with CWC. LCSs thrive when they receive support from CWC and their local hospital.
Funding
Obtaining adequate funding for the LCS position looks different for every hospital. Whether you have received a grant or have access to state opioid settlement funds, CWC is happy to discuss strategies for your particular context.
Please reach out if you need support or want to get involved.
We welcome every question in hopes that the Life Care Specialist role will soon spread to communities nationwide. Here are some questions we hear most often:
Hospitals interested in bringing an LCS to their team will begin by connecting with CWC, assessing their hospital’s needs, securing leadership support, and acquiring funding. LCSs are then placed in key hospital departments where they provide critical support to patients and staff.
They truly do. Our clinical study showed that participants who saw an LCS were discharged with 25% less opioid pain medication compared to those who did not interact with an LCS.
Medical experience is preferred but not required to become an LCS, and neither is a college degree. The Mercer School of Medicine certification is intentionally crafted to equip passionate individuals from various walks of life.
LCSs are paraprofessionals who can provide a first step in educating patients about mental health, but they do not replace counselors or therapists.
The Life Care Specialist certification is a career path that stems from a deep place of empathy and compassion. The desire to make a difference in even one life is what creates a great LCS.
Life Care Specialists currently work in hospitals across Georgia and Arkansas, and we are ready to continue expanding!
There are so many avenues for fighting the opioid epidemic. Educating yourself, donating to CWC or one of our partners, carrying Narcan, and speaking out about the dangers of opioid misuse are all ways to make an impact.