Chronic illness in the director's office: a pragmatic approach to decision making

This management article is based upon a real life experience and suggests various steps that need to be taken to deal with a chronic illness in the leadership of the professional social work program in a hospital. The organizational support of upper management; the departmental structure; personnel decisions and employee benefits; the program history and current dynamics; and the expertise of the restructured directorship each play a crucial role in shaping the outcome.