QuestionWWYD

Hi!

I’m a medical social worker in a skilled nursing facility with short term rehab. I recently had a patient who was there for rehab and ultimately ended up needing placement due to the home environment being hostile from a alcoholic child. I contacted APS upon admission due to those concerns listed. An APS case was opened and assigned. The plan was for the patient to wait at the facility until an apartment opened up and they would transition there. Unfortunately, in the state that I live low income, senior housing can take about six months to a year to become available. The patient is their own responsible party. On the 22nd the patient decided to go on a leave of absence. The patient called the evening of the 28th and stated they appreciated all the help but would not be returning to the facility and they would wait for placement at home. I immediately called them and went over the risks and asked if they felt safe. They understood and stated they did feel safe. However, the patient had no medication as it was not a planned discharge. I immediately called the doctor and requested medications be sent into the pharmacy and set up home care for them. I called APS to notify them of this as well. I followed up with the patient a few days later and they let me know the physician did not call the scripts into the pharmacy. I immediately called the physician and asked them to call them in asap. The medications did get called in but the patient still has not picked them up. Is there anything that could come back on me or could I be sued as a social worker in this situation? I care deeply about my patients. I also worry that I have done everything I can and always worry about getting in trouble. I also know clients are able to make poor choices, and this is something I know I need to work on because I just want nothing but the best for my patients ☹️