SWK6141 Social Work in Healthcare

Abstract

COURSE DESCRIPTION This course provides the student with a conceptual, ethical and practice framework for social work practice in health care. It provides an overview of the United States health care system, the unique knowledge and skill base of social work in health care, the biopsychosocial/spiritual impact of illness on patients and their family members/support system and the special psychosocial needs of populations most often served in medical social work. The course also provides an overview of common ethical dilemmas unique to social work practice in health care. This course is linked to course content in other first year courses such as Human Behavior in Social Environment, Foundations of Social Work Practice I & II, which aim to sensitize students to social contexts and their impact on individual, group and community functioning. There are no prerequisites for this elective.