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Social Work Practice in Healthcare
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Social Work Practice in Healthcare
Advanced Approaches and Emerging Trends



April 2015 | 536 pages | SAGE Publications, Inc

This pragmatic and comprehensive book helps readers develop the knowledge, skills, and values necessary for effective health care social work practice, as well as an understanding of the technological, social, political, ethical, and financial factors affecting contemporary patient care. Packed with case studies and exercises, the book emphasizes the importance of being attentive to both patient and organizational needs, covers emerging trends in health care policy and delivery, provides extensive discussion of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and addresses social work practice across the continuum of care.


 
Introduction to Social Work Practice in Healthcare
 
Chapter 1: The Historical and Contemporary Context for Healthcare Social Work Practice
Introduction

 
Evolution of medical social work practice

 
Historical context of health care in the United States

 
Public health in the United States

 
Early efforts to nationalize health care in the United States

 
Contemporary health care reform: The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010

 
Summary

 
Key terms, concepts and exercises

 
 
Chapter 2: The Organizational Context of Health Care Social Work Practice
Introduction

 
Health care organizations

 
Social work challenges in contemporary health care organizations

 
The advent of managed health care

 
The PPACA and Accountable Care Organizations

 
The health care system as a continuum

 
Continuum components, focus of care and social work services

 
Summary

 
Key terms, concepts and exercises

 
 
Chapter 3: Knowledge and Theoretical Foundations of Health Care Social Work Practice
Introduction

 
The changing health care system

 
Definitions of health, wellness, disease and disability

 
The medical model of practice

 
Health condition adjustment: Patient/family counseling

 
A theoretical framework for intervention

 
Summary

 
Key terms, concepts and exercises

 
 
Chapter 4: Health Care Social Work Practice Skills and Competencies
Introduction

 
Definition of health care social work practice

 
The roles and functions of health care social work practice

 
The helping process applied to health care social work practice

 
Summary

 
Key terms, concepts and exercises

 
 
Chapter 5: Values and Ethics of Health Care Social Work
Introduction

 
Social work values

 
Ethical dilemmas

 
Ethical decision-making

 
Ethics Committees

 
Challenges

 
Opportunities

 
Summary

 
Key terms, concepts and exercises

 
 
Chapter 6: Practice-Based Research in Health Care Social Work
Introduction

 
Evidence-based practice

 
From research to quality improvement

 
Practice based evaluation

 
Best practice in evaluation design

 
Evaluative designs

 
Outcome findings and quality evaluation

 
Creating a positive culture for evaluation

 
Summary

 
Key terms, concepts and exercises

 
 
Part 2: Advanced Approaches and Emerging Trends
 
Chapter 7: Chronic Illness: Issues and Interventions
Introduction

 
Health disparities and associated costs of chronic illness

 
Biopsychosocial assessment of health needs and services

 
Social work role in care coordination

 
Facilitating adherence to medical regimens

 
The impact of chronic illness on family functioning

 
Special considerations: Chronic illness in childhood Chronic diseases overview

 
Summary

 
Key terms, concepts and exercises

 
 
Chapter 8: Transitional Planning Across the Continuum of Care
Introduction

 
Discharge planning through the continuum of care

 
Interprofessional care coordination

 
Medical “gatekeepers”

 
Preadmission planning

 
Transitional care planning

 
The role of social work in long-term care

 
Alternatives to nursing home care

 
Summary

 
Key terms, concepts and exercises

 
 
Chapter 9: Social Work Practice in Oncology, Palliative Care and End of Life Care
Introduction

 
Eolution of cancer care

 
Survivability factors

 
Cultural issues

 
Current trends in psychosocial care: Functions and roles

 
Psychosocial screening and assessment

 
Depression and anxiety in cancer patients

 
Characteristics of oncology social work practice

 
Patient and family intervention

 
Summary: The challenge of oncology practice

 
Key terms, concepts and exercises

 
 
Chapter 10: Community Health and Health Promotion
Introduction

 
Theoretical framework

 
Skills and competencies

 
Values and ethics

 
Health promotion and wellness models

 
Cultural considerations

 
Role of social work in community and public health

 
Emerging trends

 
Challenges

 
Opportunities

 
Summary

 
Key terms, concepts and exercises

 
 
Chapter 11: Gerontological Health Care Social Work Practice
a. Introduction

 
b. Our aging population

 
c. Demographic influences

 
d. Present health status of the aging population

 
e. Health care and social services needs of an aging population

 
f. The opportunity for social work practice

 
g. Gerontological social work functions

 
h. Intervention with an aging population

 
i. Social work policy practice with an aging population

 
j. Summary

 
k. Key terms, concepts and exercises

 
 
Chapter 12: Intervention with Pediatric Patients and their Families
Introduction

 
Child health in the United States

 
Chronic health

 
Mental health

 
Developmental disabilities

 
Accidental injury

 
Pediatric care sites and social work practice

 
Social work practice knowledge and skills

 
Documentation

 
Child maltreatment

 
Professional values and ethics

 
Practice challenges

 
Practice opportunities

 
Summary

 
Key terms, concepts and exercises

 
 
Chapter 13: Co-occurring Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Disorders in Medical Patients: Implications for Health Care Social Work Practice
Introduction

 
Psychiatric care in health settings

 
The social work role in behavioral health

 
Substance abuse as a co-occurring disorder

 
Integrating care

 
Summary

 
Key terms, concepts and exercises

 
 
Chapter 14: Supervision and Evaluation
Introduction

 
Importance of clinical supervision

 
The historical context of supervision

 
Definitions: Field education, supervision and consultation

 
Theoretical foundations

 
Supervision Competencies

 
Supervision modalities

 
Trends in supervision

 
Ethical responsibilities of supervisors

 
Performance evaluation

 
Summary

 
Key terms, concepts and exercises

 
 
Chapter 15: Cultural Competence in Health Care Social Work
Introduction

 
Defining cultural competence

 
Specific considerations in culturally competent health care

 
The gay, lesbian and transgendered population

 
Culturally competent health care organizations

 
Summary

 
Key terms, concepts and exercises

 
 
Chapter 16: Glimpses into the Future of Health Care and Social Work Practice
Introduction

 
On the health care policy horizon

 
On the health care service delivery horizon

 
On the health care social work practice horizon

 
Envisioning the future…

 
Key terms, concepts and exercises

 

Supplements

Instructor Teaching Site

Password-protected Instructor Resources include the following:

  • A Microsoft® Word® test bank is available containing multiple choice, true/false, short answer, and essay questions for each chapter. The test bank provides you with a diverse range of pre-written options as well as the opportunity for editing any question and/or inserting your own personalized questions to effectively assess students’ progress and understanding.
  • A Respondus electronic test bank is available and can be used on PCs. The test bank contains multiple choice, true/false, short answer, and essay questions for each chapter and provides you with a diverse range of pre-written options as well as the opportunity for editing any question and/or inserting your own personalized questions to effectively assess students’ progress and understanding. Respondus is also compatible with many popular learning management systems so you can easily get your test questions into your online course.
  • Editable, chapter-specific Microsoft® PowerPoint® slides offer you complete flexibility in easily creating a multimedia presentation for your course. 
  • Sample course syllabi for semester and quarter courses provide suggested models for use when creating the syllabi for your course.
  • Case studies, discussion questions, class exercises, and web resources from the book are provided in Microsoft® Word® for use in your course.

Charting the territory of health care in American society is a daunting task. This text takes on the challenge in a bold and ambitious style that is robust in historical accuracy and insightful when articulating the responsibility of professional social work in today’s complex evolving health care environment. A particular hallmark of this text is the thread that is weaved from the origins of American health care to its current texture.

Frank R. Baskind, Dean Emeritus and Professor, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Social Work, Past President of the Council on Social Work Education

More than an academic text, this important work clearly and accurately characterizes the skills, challenges, and patient and family-centered work of the present day healthcare social worker. Amidst the turmoil and theoretical debate driven by health care reform, the authors write from direct experience effectively bringing their knowledge into a comprehensive examination of the value and role of social workers in the health care arena today.

Edward Woomer, Associate Administrator, Nemours duPont Hospital for Children, Past President of the National Society for Social Work Leadership in Health Care

“Drs. Allen and Spitzer provide a very thorough and insightful examination of not only the profession of social work, but also the complex context in which social workers must work. The treatment of the history of attention to social determinants of health, the evolution of the healthcare delivery system, and the renewed attention to social determinants through the Affordable Care Act is of interest and importance not only to members of the profession, but to all healthcare professionals and others who wish to understand this rapidly changing industry.”

Carolyn (Cindy) A. Watts, Richard M. Bracken Chair and Chairman, Department of Health Administration, School of Allied Health Professionals, Virginia Commonwealth University

This comprehensive volume makes an important new contribution to the literature of health care social work. In exploring social work’s changing roles in health care, it offers knowledge that is based both on thorough research and on practice wisdom drawn from experiences of the editors and authors.

Kay Davidson, Past Dean and Professor, University of Connecticut School of Social Work

Drs. Allen and Spitzer provide a comprehensive and well-sourced review of the practice of social work within the broader context of past and present health care delivery models. Most intriguing is their projection of the future of social work in health care using patient-centered, integrated care, medical homes, navigators, and patient/provider partnerships.

Michael Jurgensen, Senior Vice President, Health Policy & Planning, Medical Society of Virginia

A great textbook for a social work and healthcare course. My students have expressed how excited they are about this book, and course.

Mr Jared Dean Johnson
Social Work, Middle Georgia State University
April 9, 2023

Excellent textbook for social workers interested in healthcare settings. The textbook was thorough, interesting and covered important aspects and populations for educating social workers about healthcare social work.

Dr Kathryn Bonach
Social Work, Carlow University
May 4, 2023
Key features

KEY FEATURES:

  • This single source guide combines theory, practice, ethics, and policy for effective health care social work practice.
  • The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 and its implications for social work practice are integrated throughout, helping readers develop critical thinking skills as they consider the premise of the Act, evolving health care service delivery, and social work practice.
  • Coverage of advanced approaches and emerging trends in contemporary health care social work are included for effective practice in the areas of chronic illness, practice across the continuum of care settings, palliative and end-of-life care, community health care, elderly and pediatric care, co-existing psychiatric and substance disorders, supervision and staff evaluation, and cultural competence.
  • A wide variety of case studies, examples, sample forms, and exercises drawn from the authors' extensive experience in health care social work help translate theory into practice.
  • An emphasis on evidence-based practice, best practices, and practice evaluation provides preparation for engaging in research-informed practice and practice-informed research—an essential competency.
  • Coverage of future directions and career opportunities for health care social work prepares readers to respond to the changes brought about by the Affordable Care Act and demographic shifts in the population, as well as the demand for improved outcomes and the integration of behavioral and medical health care services.

Sample Materials & Chapters

Chapter 6

Chapter 15


For instructors

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