Americans are watching their money. Every penny and every dollar spent is being scrutinized and their personal medical care isn’t making the list.

Karen Harris-Wise is the Director of Case Management. “People are just putting their mortgage over their health and I can understand that, but the longer they neglect their health, the sicker they’re going to be.”

With money so tight for so many, these hospital case managers and social workers want to help patients remedy their financial health while the physical healing continues. “We would talk about medications first, about medications they will be going home on,” says Carmen Milleti, a medical social worker. Case manager, Judith Hill adds, “We see a lot of people that just don’t have the finances to move forward. Lots of people can be hooked up with community connections that can get them to services they need.”

They will sit down one on one with patients and will map out a way to take care of their health without sacrificing daily needs. “We discuss with the patients exactly what they think they need. There are many community resources, state resources, there’s resources for children,” says Harris-Wise. “I think its really important to take care of yourself first, because if you’re not taking care of you, how can you take care of anybody else?” adds Hill.

Don’t hesitate to talk to your doctor about your financial concerns when it comes to medical costs. They can point you in the right direction to get help.