Clinical social work and family medicine: a partnership in community service

Traditionally, family physicians have been called on to handle the emotional problems of their patients. Their ability to address these concerns has been inconsistent. In hospital settings, where interdisciplinary teams are common, nonmedical professionals have been able to provide counseling services to patients. But this is a problem in private medical practices. This article presents a model for collaboration between family medical and clinical social work practice and describes a holistic approach for primary care practice.