Monday, August 5, 2013

Reflection 9




Chapter 9 discusses “A vision of future social work practice in health care”. In other words, it relates to comparing the past and present of social work, the changes that have and are taking place throughout social work in the health care field, and also the research, skills, and values that are needed in order to be a social worker in the professional world. Many changes have taken place throughout the health care field along with the duties of a social worker. A few include; “Shift from hospital to the community as the center of health care delivery, increase in health problems with social and environmental etiology, growing expectation that families will have to do more of the care giving of their own members, at all levels of caring, gradual transformation of once-terminal health problems, into more chronic long-term care ones, etc.” (Cowles, p. 343).  While these different trends are introduced or become adapted, it is important that a social worker keep up to date and also always remember their primary goal; and that is to help people and try to keep them happy no matter the circumstances. “In light of values and ethics of the profession, it seems that health care social workers ought to consider what is really needed to make fundamental improvements in our nation” (Cowles, p. 353). This is stated in order to equal out populations and its health status, diminish social inequality, raise money along with increasing programs that are used for health advertising and prevention for disease, etc. “Whether the supports are interpersonal or concrete, the essence of care or caring is to strengthen the ability of people to cope with the challenges they face, so they can have an improved quality of life” (Cowles, p. 364). In my opinion this statement is a perfect for a social worker in the health care field, and describes every aspect of what they do on a day to day basis. Social work is about caring and providing, although there are many changes, patients still need to be happy.
Resource:
Fort Cowles, L. A. (2003). Social Work in the Health Field: A Care Perspective ( 2nd Ed.) Binghamton, NY: The Haworth Press.

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