Health Equity in Palliative Care

Abstract

This chapter explores health equity in the context of palliative social work, focusing on an understanding and commitment to reducing and eliminating health disparities in palliative care. Health inequities are experienced by socially, economically, and/or environmentally disadvantaged groups throughout the life course. They accumulate over time and too often culminate in the experience of serious illness. Despite a long history of substantiated recognition of the need to reduce disparities in health, racially and ethnically diverse populations continue to experience inequity in healthcare accessibility and utilization, suffering disproportionately from preventable and treatable conditions. As social workers in palliative care, it behooves us to consider such health inequities across our care systems. Social work, a discipline defined by its commitment to social justice, is well situated to provide evidence-based leadership in demonstrating strategies to eradicate health disparities and promote health equity in palliative care.

Job Performance Evaluation of Medical Social Workers during Covid-19 Crisis: Tasks, Attitudes, and Difficulties

“…Additionally, Kripalani et al (2007) report that medical social workers have been found to play an essential role in discharge planning, ensuring that patients receive appropriate follow-up care and support after leaving the hospital [19]. Furthermore, Jones et al's (2020) study has demonstrated that medical social workers are necessary in addressing health disparities and promoting health equity [20]. Alderwick & Gottlieb's (2019) study suggests that medical social workers can help identify and address social determinants of health that may impact a patient's health outcomes, such as poverty, housing instability, and food insecurity [21].…”