A systems approach to the provision of social work services in health settings: part 2

In the first part of this presentation published in the last issue, the author offered a sociological view of the hospital as an institution within the economic, political, and value systems of the community. Systems theory is the conceptual base for projecting the potential role of the social worker in the health setting. Part 2, in this issue, deals 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.