Thinking Big, Supporting Families and Enabling Coping: The Value of Social Work in Patient and Family Centered Health Care

Abstract

Patient and family-centered care has become a focus in health services. Social work has a rich history of providing responsive patient care. This study identified the contribution and value of social work to PFCC from the key stakeholder perspectives of health social workers (n = 65). Utilizing interpretive description, four themes emerged: (1) Thinking big and holistically, (2) Intervening with families, (3) Enabling patient and family coping, and (4) Maximizing hospital and community resources. Barriers included a lack of power, professional isolation and role creep. Implications for research and practice are provided.

KEYWORDS:

• health social work
• medical social work
• coping
• social work practice
• hospital social work
• grounded theory
• patient-centered care