Medical Social Work Essay

Social work as a profession is a very broad field, which ranges from mental health, law, education etc. One of the most prominent and growing areas in the field is medical social work. According to the NASW, social workers in hospitals and medical centers provide frontline services to patients with conditions spanning the entire healthcare continuum. Medical social work includes settings such as hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers etc. Within these settings, the social worker not only works with other social workers but also with an interdisciplinary team. The team consists of other professionals including doctors, nurses, dieticians etc. that work to improve the health and well-being of a patient. Throughout history, we’ve known social workers as being “friendly visitors”, activists etc. So now we question the rise of medical social work, where did it begin? In the year 1905, the first social worker was hired in an outpatient clinic. Ida commented, “He was presenting the idea of social service within the hospital where sick patients, although separation from their homes and families, nevertheless cannot separate themselves …show more content…
By putting the client first and understanding what they’re going through and actively using the strengths perspective to empower them. When going into this profession and this specific setting one must become familiar with the medical terminology. It is important because you’re there to listen and effectively help your patient. By learning and understanding the various illnesses, diagnoses, treatments, medications will allow you to become a more effective social worker. Raising your own awareness of the current news allows you to become an effective team player. There is a stigma towards social workers in a medical setting. Many other professions do not know what exactly that social workers