Cowles, Lois Anne Fort : Idaho State University, Pocatello
Review
"VERY USEFUL TO STUDENTS. . . . One of the few works available that includes a useful discussion of social
work practice in nursing homes."
--Choice
"EFFECTIVE. . . . presents generic and special knowledge requirements for social work practice in health care
settings, including values, ethics, and issues of diversity."
--Social Work Agenda
"The book is CLEARLY WRITTEN, and is thought-provoking concerning the role of the social work practitioner
in health settings and the nature of the linkage between health and social care. Despite the fact that it is American
in origin, it is of relevance to multi-disciplinary and international audiences and contains much which will be
OF INTEREST TO STUDENTS AND EDUCATORS AS WELL AS PRACTITIONERS."
--Journal of Social Work
"CLEARLY DEFINES THE KNOWLEDGE, VALUES, AND SKILL SETS necessary for social work delivery throughout the health
care continuum. This text is logical, straightforward, very readable, and helpful as a reference tool. ACADEMICIANS,
UNDERGRADUATES, GRADUATES, AND NEW SOCIAL WORK PRACTITIONERS WILL SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASE THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF
THE HEALTH CARE ARENA and the varying roles of social work through a careful reading of this book. Repeatedly,
this book has received rave reviews as being 'readable, relevant, and informative' from social work practitioners
within the health care arena. This text is truly unique in its approach of combining policy, theory, and practice
concepts impacting social work services in health care delivery."
--Denice Goodrich Liley, PhD, ACSW, Associate Professor, Boise State University School of Social Work
"COMPREHENSIVE AND DETAILED. . . . USEFUL AS A TEXT IN BOTH PRACTICE AND POLICY COURSES. Dr. Cowles does a
particularly fine job of identifying and explaining current policy and policy issues in each health practice setting.
. . . Makes a strong argument for the integration of physical and mental health care in the practice of primary
care. . . . A welcome addition to what has become a limited number of social work texts focused on health care
practice."
--Gary Lounsberry, PhD, MPH, LCSW, Associate Professor of Social Work, Florida Gulf Coast University
"A MUST-READ FOR SOCIAL WORK STUDENTS planning to practice in today's ever-changing health arena. It should
certainly become THE TEXT OF CHOICE FOR SOCIAL WORK HEALTH PRACTICE CLASSES. . . . The author calls for a shift
from the curative medical model to a supportive and caring model and brings a public health perspective by focusing
on health promotion and disease prevention. This second edition highlights recent changes in the organization and
financing of health care and provides an understanding of how health policy impacts health practice."
--Marjorie Sable, DrPH, MSW, Associate Professor, School of Social Work, University of Missouri-Columbia
Haworth Press, Inc. Web Site, August, 2003
Summary
Use your social work skills to advocate for more effective health care!
Social Work in the Health Field: A Care Perspective, Second Edition updates this comprehensive guide to social
work practice and policy issues in the health field. An easy-to-use textbook for graduate and undergraduate courses
and a practical guide for social work practitioners, the book will help you meet the demands of the growing population
of clients in nursing homes or hospice care and for the decline of traditional hospital-based social work. Complete
with an instructor's manual to help you facilitate lectures, class discussions, and tests, this new edition focuses
even more strongly than the first on prevention and health promotion at the community level as well as the individual
client level, the relevance of social environmental conditions to the health of populations, and the growing importance
of social work in the health field.
Social Work in the Health Field: A Care Perspective, Second Edition is an overview of social work practice in various
health care settings. The book addresses the historical background of social work in health care, theoretical perspectives,
organizational considerations, theory and practice of interdisciplinary teamwork, client problems, skill and knowledge
requirements, values and ethics considerations, and recent developments in hospital social work. New material in
this edition includes:
an update on primary health care--how social workers can modify communities and social environmental conditions
to reduce social inequities and enhance social supports and integration within populations
an updated critique of the health care system in the United States--what social workers need to know and the
changes they need to make to advocate effectively
updates on research findings and statistical data
Table of Contents
Foreword
Preface
Acknowledgments
Abbreviations
Section I: Introduction and Overview
Chapter 1. Orientation to Social Work in the Health Field
Historical Background and Development
Theoretical Perspectives
Human Diversity and Behavior
Interdisciplinary Teamwork
Other Organizational Considerations
Social Worker Functions and Client Problems
Summary
Chapter 2. Fundamentals of Health Care Social Work Practice
Knowledge Requirements
Values and Ethics Considerations
Skill Requirements
Dimensions of Helping
Summary
Section II: Settings at the Three Levels of Intervention
Chapter 3. Social Work in Primary Care Settings
Historical Background
Theoretical Perspectives
Interdisciplinary Teamwork
Organizational Considerations
Client Problems and Social Worker Functions
Knowledge Requirements
Values and Ethics Considerations
Skill Requirements
Helping Interventions
Commentary
Chapter 4. Social Work in Hospitals
Historical Background
Theoretical Perspectives
Human Diversity Relevance
Interdisciplinary Teamwork
Organizational Considerations
Client Problems and Social Worker Functions
Knowledge Requirements
Values and Ethics Considerations
Skill Requirements
Helping Interventions
Commentary
Chapter 5. Social Work in Home Health Care/Home Care
Historical Background
Theoretical Perspectives
Human Diversity Relevance
Interdisciplinary Teamwork
Organizational Considerations
Client Problems and Social Worker Functions
Knowledge Requirements
Values and Ethics Considerations
Skill Requirements
Commentary
Chapter 6. Social Work in Nursing Homes
Historical Background
Theoretical Perspectives
Human Diversity Relevance
Interdisciplinary Teamwork
Organizational Considerations
Client Problems and Social Worker Functions
Knowledge Requirements
Values and Ethics Considerations
Helping Interventions
Commentary
Chapter 7. Social Work in Hospice Care
Historical Background
Theoretical Perspectives
Human Diversity Relevance
Interdisciplinary Teamwork
Organizational Considerations
Client Problems and Social Worker Functions
Knowledge Requirements
Values and Ethics Considerations
Skill Requirements
Commentary
Section III: Health Service Delivery and Financing
Chapter 8. U.S. Health Care System Strengths and Problems
Description and Assessment of the System
Managed Care
Summary
Chapter 9. A Vision of Future Social Work Practice in Health Care
Introduction
Emerging Trends in Health Care Delivery
