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At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources
PubMed1984

Hospital social work: cui bono?

The role of hospital social work departments (SWDs) is often the subject of dispute. Medical administrators, who hold the purse and policy strings, and heads of SWDs will have a major influence on the evolution of these departments in times of continued financial constraint. Their views on the importance of the services provided by the SWD, both currently and in the future, were canvassed by mailing a questionnaire to all teaching hospitals in Australia. A 90% overall response was achieved. In general, instrumental tasks (those associated with the traditional "almoner" role) were perceived by medical administrators and heads of SWDs as of equal importance. Independent professional social work activities and social change agent services were more highly valued by heads of SWDs. Most services were expected to increase, with only "placement" declining in the future. More change was expected by heads of SWDs than by medical administrators. These results are seen to reflect the differing values of the two groups, the significance of which is discussed.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A pilot survey of social work services in pediatric primary care programs in urban teaching hospitals.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the current status of social work presence in pediatric primary care clinics in urban teaching hospitals. DESIGN: Survey instrument mailed to the medical directors of outpatient pediatrics in the major pediatric teaching hospital of approved residency programs in the 100 largest metropolitan areas in the United States. RESULTS: Sixty responses (60%) were received. Eighty percent of practices reported having on-site social work services, with a median of 14,805 annual clinic visits per social work full-time equivalent. Ninety-five percent of respondents considered on-site social work services in pediatric primary care to be important, whereas half of respondents considered social work services "less than adequate" at their site, and most of these felt this inadequacy had led to additional hospital visits or other adverse outcomes. There were no significant associations of reported adequacy of social work services with any characteristics of hospital, practice, or population. CONCLUSION: Pediatric primary care clinicians at teaching hospitals consider on-site social work services to be important, but most report these services are less than adequate in their practices, and for many, adequacy has declined.

Child↗
PubMed1995

Utilizing data to improve practice in hospital social work: a case study.

Health care social work has made important progress in developing methods for assuring and improving the quality of services provided, using tools such as computerized information systems. This paper presents a case study demonstrating utilization of preliminary data generated by such a system, focusing on problem identification and professional interventions. Successive stages in the process of data application are described: definition of quality assurance issues; validation of data; hypothesis formation; in-depth analysis through case examples; and formation of change strategies. Results of the application and its implications for practice are discussed.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

A longitudinal look at social work leadership in hospitals: the impact of a changing health care system.

This article examines the responses of social work administrators to the changes occurring throughout their hospitals over three time periods in the 1990s; the major accomplishments of social work services in their facilities; and the failures, frustrations, and obstacles in the delivery of social work services. It compares the reports of social work director cohorts on the changes they experienced over an eight-year period with what they had expected in their settings. It also analyzes their perceptions over time of obstacles and opportunities for hospital social work administrators in response to these changes. The authors present the ways in which social work administrators understand and address the complexities they face.

Cohort Studies↗
PubMed2003

The effect of organizational reengineering on job satisfaction for staff in hospital social work departments.

The professional staff in five hospital social work departments participated in an exploratory study to assess the impact of organizational reengineering on job satisfaction, professional identity and other work related attitudes. A survey was used to explore how job functions had changed; whether or not staff felt adequately prepared to perform the new tasks; and whether the changes were consistent with their professional identities and academic preparation. Follow up focus group interviews were held to enrich the quantitative findings. The results of the study indicate that reengineering has a negative effect on job satisfaction and results in role changes that are experienced as inconsistent with the professional identity and academic preparation of social work staff. In addition to describing the results of the study, this paper provides a brief overview of reengineering, describes models of reengineering for hospital social work departments and suggests strategies for lessening the negative effect on staff.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed1992

Electroconvulsive therapy from a social work perspective.

The purpose of this paper is to fill a gap in the social work literature which has not, to date, included a thorough discussion of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) from a social work perspective. It discusses the rationale for ECT in current practice; enumerates improvements made in stimulus delivery since convulsive therapy was introduced in 1934; and summarizes the myths, realities, advantages and limitations of the treatment in modern psychiatry. It advocates a team approach, which includes social work support and education of the patient and family regarding treatment related matters and discharge planning. Several clinical vignettes are included to illustrate the types of illness for which ECT is used as well as the social work role with the team and patient/family during hospitalization and discharge planning. The Ontario College of Certified Social Workers Guidelines are used to explain social work interventions. The paper is also relevant to social workers in non-psychiatric settings in understanding and planning with patients and families where a member has experienced ECT.

Bipolar Disorder↗
PubMed2006

Help seeking and barriers to utilisation of medical and health social work services among ageing immigrants to Israel from the former Soviet Union.

The study aimed to examine utilisation of medical and health social work services among ageing recent and long-term immigrants, to identify barriers to service utilisation, and to examine factors related to utilisation. Participants (n = 402) recruited from a random community sample of immigrants from the former Soviet Union in Israel, aged 55 and over, residing in urban areas throughout the country were interviewed by telephone. Using an expanded framework of Andersen's behavioural model, the independent variables included predisposing, enabling and need variables, and additional variables--barriers to utilisation or difficulties encountered during utilisation of services. For multivariate analyses of the dependent variables, a linear multiple regression model was employed for utilisation of medical services and a logistic regression model for utilisation of social work services. The main findings show that utilisation rates were high for medical services, but low for social work services. Recent immigrants had similar utilisation rates of medical services but utilised more social work services than long-term immigrants. There were few barriers but numerous difficulties in utilisation of medical services, while there were barriers but negligible difficulties in utilisation of social work services. Predisposing and need variables explained utilisation of medical services, whereas a combination of predisposing, enabling and need variables explained utilisation of social work services. The findings suggest that different factors are associated with the use of non-discretionary versus discretionary (social work) services. There is a need to reduce difficulties in utilisation of medical services and to enhance awareness about health social work services among the immigrants.

Aged↗
PubMed1983

Predicting patterns of social work staffing in hospital settings.

One long-standing problem of social work departments in acute care hospitals has been their diverse patterns of staffing. The lack of a standard or guide has tended to diminish the utilization of social work services in hospital settings. Over a period of six years, the Society for Hospital Social Work Directors of the American Hospital Association developed and revised a guide for inpatient staffing. The guide is designed to assist hospital and social work administrators establish an inpatient line staffing plan which is based on the number of hospital beds, the number of patients to be served and the number of functions carried. The logic of the inquiry and the findings can serve as a base for future research in inpatient, ambulatory care and other settings which serve special populations.

American Hospital Association↗
PubMed1996

Shaping the policy practice agenda of social work in the field of aging.

This article argues that contemporary social work practice will, of necessity, involve a politically active stance. This stance will strengthen and redefine the relationship between legislative policy and social work practice in the field of aging. The urgency for such redefinition is fueled by the massive changes proposed and under way in Congress and by the increasing need for agencies to develop innovative programming, evaluate practice effectiveness, and compete for funding. Social work practitioners in all roles are challenged to refine or redefine their goals while remaining true to social work values and ethics.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

Social work and the new integrative hospital.

The principles of bureaucratically organized hospitals are counter to the values of social work. In a move to new integrative hospitals, social work can be the champions. The values of the social work profession that emphasize negotiation, change, flexibility, relationships, choice and control, the right to exercise autonomy, and participatory decision-making, are congruent with the principles that form the foundation for the new integrative models for hospitals. A model for the organization of social work practice, continuing education, standard setting, research and the student program. The Professional Standards Group, is proposed for the new hospital age.

Hospital Restructuring↗
PubMed1994

[Social work in acute psychiatry].

The present study reports about social work during a 3 month period in a psychiatric intensive care unit. The activities of the social worker were documented and classified according a special key. 160 patients were admitted and diagnosed according to ICD 9 and ICD 10, in about 62% of these patients the social worker was involved. The analysis demonstrates that the social worker is more active in male patients and in patients with schizophrenic psychosis. This report points out the relevance of the social work in a psychiatric intensive care unit and the necessity of a good documentation of the social work efforts.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

The use of theoretical constructs and research data to establish a base for clinical social work in health settings.

This article suggests a means for organizing a base for clinical social work practice in health settings. Membership, as a theoretical construct, is used to explore the essentials of social work, to explicate its key practice concepts, and to review characteristics of the health field. Selected findings from a secondary analysis of data from the New England Regional Survey of Social Work Practice are considered with reference to theory and essential concepts of health social work practice. Questions are raised and implications drawn for the practice of clinical social work in health settings and for education for that practice.

Delivery of Health Care↗
PubMed1981

Health planning: structure, processes, and social work involvement.

Health planning can be a significant influence on the delivery of social services. It has been increasingly characterized by regulation and restriction and, as such, presents both threats and possibilities to social work values and service ideals. Health planning priorities are consonant with social work values and service ideals. Its effect on health facilities and their responses to it, however, could pose threats to social work. On the other hand, health planning can be used to enhance social services as well as better integration of health and social services. The structure and processes of local health planning are described, and areas of social work involvement are suggested.

Health Planning↗
PubMed2005

Measuring productivity in medical social work.

Our purpose was to discuss the need for measuring and documenting social work services, as well as to discuss the data and statistical collection method used in Mayo Clinic's Section of Medical Social Services, which may be useful to other social service departments. The lack of empirical data showing the value of social work services may lead to decreases in staffing in medical social work departments. Mayo Clinic uses a computer application called MedSoc to gather case information and measure productivity, which is based on demand and capacity. Through use of MedSoc, our section improved communication among social work staff members and justified an increase in staffing of 38% from late 1997 to 2002.

Benchmarking↗