The role of social workers in addressing nonmedical needs in primary health care

Rowe, Jeannine M.; Rizzo, Victoria M.; Vail, Matthew; Kang, Suk-Young; Golden, Robyn

doi:10.1080/00981389.2017.1318799

Cited by 30 publications

(33 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…41 However, a more complete social services billing code set would permit more precise measurement, payment, and evaluation of social service care. 42 , 43 …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Expenditure Reductions Associated with a Social Service Referral Program

Pruitt

Emechebe

Quast

et al. 2018

Population Health Management

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Recent health system innovations provide encouraging evidence that greater coordination of medical and social services can improve health outcomes and reduce health care expenditures. This study evaluated the savings associated with a managed care organization's call center-based social service referral program that aimed to assist participants address their social needs, such as homelessness, transportation barriers, and food insecurity. The program evaluation linked social service referral data with health care claims to analyze expenditures in 2 annual periods, before and after the first social service referral. Secondary data analysis estimated the change in mean expenditures over 2 annual periods using generalized estimating equations regression analysis with the identity link. The study compared the change in mean health care expenditures for the second year for those reporting social needs met versus the group whose needs remained unmet. By comparing the difference between the first and second year mean expenditures for both groups, the study estimated the associated savings of social services, after controlling for group differences. These results showed that the decrease in second year mean expenditures for the group of participants who reported all of their social needs met was $2443 (10%) greater than the decrease in second year mean expenditures for the group who reported none of their social needs met, after controlling for group differences. Organizations that integrate medical and social services may thrive under policy initiatives that require financial accountability for the total well-being of patients.

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“…41 However, a more complete social services billing code set would permit more precise measurement, payment, and evaluation of social service care. 42 , 43 …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Expenditure Reductions Associated with a Social Service Referral Program

Pruitt

Emechebe

Quast

et al. 2018

Population Health Management

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“…This intervention however, did not form part of the study. Recommended social work interventions address non-medical needs in primary health care [33]. This includes access to out-patient nursing care (including general home care, palliative care, family care and short term home care), home adaptation and aids (including changes around the house, emergency house calls and other aids at home), help with mobility and transport (including driving services for recreation or provision of companions for people with decreased mobility).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Social work support and unmet social needs in life after stroke: a cross-sectional exploratory study

et al. 2019

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Background Stroke patients are often affected by long-term disabilities with needs concerning social issues. There is relatively little consideration of social recovery of patients and the support required to return to work, receive social benefits, participate in daily life activities, maintain contact with family and friends and to organize financial affairs. In our study we aimed to investigate if existing tools record social needs adequately. We analyzed the current provision of social support provided in long-term care after stroke and whether unmet social needs were associated with quality of life, caregiver burden, overall function and degree of disability. Methods Our analysis is part of the Managing Aftercare of Stroke study (MAS-I), a cross-sectional exploratory study of patient needs 2–3 years after initial stroke. Assessment tools included the Nikolaus-score (social situation), the EuroQoL (quality of life), the German Burden Scale for Family Caregivers (caregiver burden), the modified Rankin Scale (disability / dependence), Stroke Impact Scale (function and degree of disability) and the Stroke Survivor Needs Questionnaire (unmet needs). Results Overall 57 patients were included in MAS-I, with ten patients classified in urgent need of socio-economic support according to the Nikolaus-score. Patients with lower than normal Nikolaus-score had a higher degree of disability. Thirty percent of all patients had never received professional social support. Social worker contact happened mostly during the stay in acute hospital or rehabilitation institution. Only four patients (11%) reported long-term support after discharge. Apart from social worker contact during acute care, 43% of patients had unmet needs in the long-term aftercare. Forty percent of all patients included in MAS-I were recommended for social work intervention after an in-depth analysis of their situation. Finally, we saw that unmet social needs were associated with lower quality of life and higher caregiver burden. Conclusions Our data suggest significant unmet needs in social care in long-term stroke patients. Screening tools for unmet social needs such as the Nikolaus-score do not holistically report patients’ needs. Trial registration Clinicaltrials.Gov NCT02320994 . Registered 19 December 2014 (retrospectively registered). Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12883-019-1451-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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“…In the included articles, social workers creating a care plan with fixed steps and goals (Lahey, Ewald, Vail, & Golden, 2019;Rowe et al, 2017) is common. In this regard, social workers are systematically working toward certain goals and outcomes.…”

Section: Process Logicmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, Doostgharin (2010) indicates that the role of social work is often limited to a defined objective, such as making an assessment to be admitted free or for a reduced fee in a certain health setting. Furthermore, several studies, mainly originating from the US, focus on the reduction of costs as one of the purposes or ways to demonstrate the effectiveness of social work in primary health care settings (Fraser et al, 2018;Mizrahi & Rizzo, 2008;Rose et al, 2016;Rowe et al, 2017). Despite the fact that fixed goals or plans are often mentioned, most articles stress the importance of flexibility within these models or fixed phases in the trajectory with patients or clients.…”

Section: Process Logicmentioning

confidence: 99%

The DNA of Social Work as a Partner in Primary Health Care

Feryn

Corte

Roose

2021

Social Work in Public Health

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There is a strong focus on primary health care (PHC), as rooted in a commitment to social justice and equity, to reduce social inequalities in health. Within PHC, interprofessional collaboration is emphasized to achieve these objectives. Social workers are a renewed partner within these collaborations, as principles of social justice and human rights are the core of this profession. However, it is unknown if and how social work implements these principles in primary health care settings. This systematic literature review examined the existing literature on the role of social work in primary health care settings on themes of social justice. Our results emphasize how valuable the presence of social workers in primary health care is because of their broad perspective on health. At the same time, we also reveal a few points of concern, as their focus on social justice remains rather individual. This review suggests the strengthening of a social justice based approach in primary health care, which is an issue that should be shared with other healthcare professionals. We discuss implications for practice, research and policy.

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The role of social workers in addressing nonmedical needs in primary health care

Cited by 30 publications

References 23 publications

Expenditure Reductions Associated with a Social Service Referral Program

Expenditure Reductions Associated with a Social Service Referral Program

Social work support and unmet social needs in life after stroke: a cross-sectional exploratory study

The DNA of Social Work as a Partner in Primary Health Care

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