Medical psychology is a field that is based on clinical and empirical knowledge that focuses on understanding the interactions between psychological, physical, social and cultural factors that affect our health. Medical psychology relates to treatment of a person with a disease and their family, from the time the diagnosis is received, to coping with an acute or chronic disease and end-of-life processes.
The medical psychologist supports the patient and their family in an inpatient and/or clinic setting, with the objective of responding to their psychological needs and, by doing so, to improve how they cope with the physical illness, until full recovery or, alternatively, adapting to the disease and its implications. Diagnosis and psychological treatment are expected to help accelerate recovery processes, shorten hospital stays, reduce consumption of medications, increase patient satisfaction, and improve patient response to the medical care.
Additionally, medical psychology helps mediate the relationship between the staff and patients, and also helps staff members cope with burnout and imparts skills to improve therapeutic effectiveness. Reducing burnout and better suitability of treatment to the patient contributes to improved satisfaction both of patients and the medical staff.
Hillel Yaffe Medical Center has been recognized by the Ministry of Health for residency in medical psychology since 2013. Since that time, the Medical Psychology Service has expanded continually. The psychologists at the medical center work in the various departments and units and provide psychological treatment in coordination with the medical and paramedical staff. Multidisciplinary teamwork makes it possible to provide patients with multidimensional and comprehensive treatment.
Who is entitled to medical psychology treatment? Who is it important to refer for diagnosis and medical psychology treatment?
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Patients who are coping with a disease/medical condition and request psychological assistance.
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Patients who are in the initial stages of diagnosis of a serious disease or who have received the bad news.
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Patients and family members (main supporters) who express emotional responses that may indicate depression, high level of anxiety or difficulty adapting.
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Patients deliberating about a therapeutic decision.
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Patients who are not consenting to the medical treatment proposed to them.
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Patients whose medical condition is complex, who suffer from several chronic diseases concurrently.
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Patients with a limited support network (loneliness).
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Patients about to undergo a medical procedure, surgery, transplant.
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Terminal patients. | 
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