New Psychiatric Social Worker Joins Keys Medical Group, Expands Care

Keys Medical Group Psychiatry at Lower Keys Medical Center announced the addition of Lynda Woods, LCSW, to its clinical staff in a newsroom release posted November 12 on lkmc.com. Woods brings more than 25 years of clinical experience and will join the practice efforts to expand behavioral health access for adults across the island community. The move reflects a broader strategy at the hospital to integrate social work and psychiatric services to better address complex mental health needs.

For Monroe County residents, the hire is significant because the Lower Keys face the same challenges common to rural and island communities, including limited specialty mental health providers and barriers to consistent care. Adding an experienced licensed clinical social worker can strengthen the clinical team by providing psychotherapy, care coordination, and connections to community resources that are essential for people living with chronic or complex mental health conditions. Integrating social work with psychiatric services also supports a more holistic model of care that addresses social determinants such as housing stability, access to benefits, and family supports.

Public health implications extend beyond individual patient encounters. Strengthening local outpatient behavioral health capacity can reduce reliance on emergency departments and distant referrals, which often create gaps in follow up and continuity. In a county where transportation and distance can compound crises, local capacity matters for timely interventions and for preventing escalation that leads to hospitalization. Effective collaboration between social workers and prescribing clinicians also supports safer medication management and more comprehensive treatment planning.

The appointment highlights workforce development and health equity issues that affect policy discussions at the local and state level. Investment in integrated behavioral health teams helps address shortages in mental health professionals and improves access for Medicaid recipients and uninsured residents, groups that disproportionately experience barriers to care. Sustained funding, support for recruitment and retention, and policies that reimburse integrated services are crucial to turning one hire into long term improvements in access and outcomes.

Community advocates and health leaders often point to the need for both clinical expertise and social supports in treating mental illness. By positioning a seasoned LCSW within the psychiatric practice, Lower Keys Medical Center is signaling a commitment to that approach. For patients and families in Monroe County, the addition should translate into more options for assessment, therapy, and navigation of complex care pathways. The full announcement is available on the hospital newsroom page on lkmc.com for residents seeking more information.