A systems approach to the provision of social work services in health settings: part 1

This paper , the first of a two-part presentation, offers a socialogical view of the hospital as an institution within the economic, political, and value systems of the community. Systems theory is the conceptual framework for projecting the potential role of the social worker in health setting. Part 2, in the next issue, will deal with impediments and barriers to effective social work in hospitals as well as solution finding based on systems work in combination with direct service skills.