The Role of the Social Worker in Problematic Interactive Media Use

Lauren Mendoza, MSW, LCSW

Clinical Social Worker, Clinic for Interactive Media and Internet Disorders

This course will cover the treatment of PIMU cases through a social work lens, including crisis management strategies, ways to educate patients and families, and the involvement of additional services/resources in collaborative care. The presentation was recorded at Problematic Interactive Media Use (PIMU): Gaming, Social Media, and More, on Oct. 15, 2021.

Learning Objectives: 

At the conclusion of this educational program, learners will be able to:

1. Understand the different roles that a social worker can have in treating a PIMU case.
2. Explain safety assessment, planning, prevention, coaching, psycho-education, and redirecting in crisis management.
3. Discuss educational techniques, available resources/services, and processes for mandated reporting/documentation.

In support of improving patient care, Boston Children’s Hospital is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

Social Worker

As a Jointly Accredited Organization, Boston Children’s Hospital is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. Boston Children’s Hospital maintains responsibility for this course. Social workers completing this course receive 0.75 ACE CE continuing education credits.

Psychologist

Continuing Education (CE) credits for psychologists are provided through the co-sponsorship of the American Psychological Association (APA) Office of Continuing Education in Psychology (CEP). The APA CEP Office maintains responsibly for the content of the programs. This course has been approved for 0.75 continuing education credits.

Physician

Boston Children’s Hospital designates this live activity for a maximum of 0.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits ™. Physicians should claim only credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in this activity.

Risk Management

This activity meets the requirements for 0.75 Risk Management Credits as proscribed by the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine and defined in 243 CMR 2.06(5)(d) I. Please check your individual state licensing board requirements before claiming these credits.

Physician Assistant

Boston Children’s Hospital has been authorized by the American Academy of PAs (AAPA) to award AAPA Category 1 CME credits for activities planned in accordance with AAPA CME Criteria. This activity is designated for 0.75 AAPA Category 1 CME credits. PAs should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation.

Nurse

Boston Children’s Hospital designates this activity for 0.75 contact hours for nurses. Nurses should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. 

Disclosure Policy

Boston Children’s Hospital adheres to all ACCME Essential Areas, Standards, and Policies. It is Boston Children’s policy that those who have influenced the content of a CE activity (e.g. planners, faculty, authors, reviewers and others) disclose all relevant financial relationships with commercial entities so that Boston Children’s may identify and resolve any conflicts of interest prior to the activity. These disclosures will be provided in the activity materials along with disclosure of any commercial support received for the activity. Additionally, faculty members have been instructed to disclose any limitations of data and unlabeled or investigational uses of products during their presentations.

Disclosure Statement

The following planners, speakers, and content reviewers, on behalf of themselves, have reported the following relevant financial relationships with any entity producing, marketing, reselling, or distributing health care goods or services consumed by, or used on patients: 

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