Health Outcomes and Costs of Social Work Services: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Despite positive overall effects on outcomes, variability in study methods, health problems, and cost analyses render generalizations difficult. Controlled hypothesis-driven trials are needed to examine the health and cost effects of specific services delivered by social workers independently and through interprofessional team-based care. Public Health Implications. The economic and health benefits reported in these studies suggest that the broad health perspective taken by the social work profession for patient, personal, and environmental needs may be particularly valuable for achieving goals of cost containment, prevention, and population health. Novel approaches that move beyond cost savings to articulate the specific value-added of social work are much needed. As health service delivery focuses increasingly on interprofessional training, practice, and integrated care, more research testing the impact of social work prevention and intervention efforts on the health and well-being of vulnerable populations while also measuring societal costs and benefits is essential.

The Medical Social Worker: A Neglected Ally in the Management of Patients with Burn Injuries

“…Without financial support, access to healthcare would have been impossible for the patients, thereby increasing their potential morbidity and mortality and escalating the attendant cost of care. Steketee et al (20) in their study noted that interventions involving social workers, whether through sole delivery, team leadership, or core membership on interprofessional teams, had positive effects on health outcomes and were less costly than usual care that did not include substantial social work services. Invariably, the MSW were still required to wear the discharge planner hat, but they equally helped the patients join a social support group.…”

Community Engagement in Public Health: A Bibliometric Mapping of Global Research

“…12 It re ected a revolutionary thinking that health is not only an outcome of biomedical interventions, but also a result of social determinants. 13,14,15 In the following period, the concerns on CE proliferated. 16,17,18 After the SARS crisis, 196 countries across the globe elaborate an international legal instrument, the International Health Regulations, laid stress on working with communities in response to the international spread of disease in 2005.…”

The Role of Social Workers in Interprofessional Primary Healthcare Teams

“…For example, patient care may occur in-office via direct face-to-face individual, couple and/or family appointments ( Kates et al 2002 ; Sverker et al 2017 ). Social workers in PHC settings may conduct home visits for homebound patients as in the case of palliative and end-of-life care and other types of complex biomedical and psychosocial situations ( Reckrey et al 2014 ; Steketee et al 2017 ). Group services are an alternate mode of care, in which social workers in PHC settings may facilitate a range of different types of psychoeducation or therapeutic group interventions ( Ezhumalai et al 2018 ; Kates et al 2002 ; Steketee et al 2017 ).…”

“…Social workers in PHC settings may conduct home visits for homebound patients as in the case of palliative and end-of-life care and other types of complex biomedical and psychosocial situations ( Reckrey et al 2014 ; Steketee et al 2017 ). Group services are an alternate mode of care, in which social workers in PHC settings may facilitate a range of different types of psychoeducation or therapeutic group interventions ( Ezhumalai et al 2018 ; Kates et al 2002 ; Steketee et al 2017 ). Indirect interventions are also used, where the need for face-to-face contact, such as with completion of referrals and other types of documentation, is less ( Horevitz and Manoleas 2013 ).…”