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Human services workers: a study of perceptions of their role
Hospital & Community Psychiatry
|July 1, 1979
Summary
Human services workers play a key role in patient care from admission to community reintegration. Their tasks are perceived differently by patients and staff, with a strong focus on in-hospital assistance.
Area of Science:
- Healthcare Administration
- Human Services
- Patient Support
Background:
- Human services workers at Veterans Administration Hospital, Brentwood, manage patient care throughout their hospital stay.
- Their role extends from admission to post-discharge community adjustment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the role of human services workers.
- To understand task perception among different stakeholder groups.
Main Methods:
- A study was conducted to assess the tasks of human services workers.
- Perceptions were gathered from workers, supervisors, other paraprofessionals, and patients.
Main Results:
- Human services workers were perceived as most involved in assisting patients within the hospital.
- Other key areas included treatment planning, discharge, and therapy.
- Community assistance, support activities, and patient admission/evaluation were also noted.
Conclusions:
- Human services workers' primary focus is in-hospital patient assistance.
- Task perception varies across different groups involved in patient care.
- Understanding these perceptions is crucial for optimizing human services roles.