The perils and promises of the health practice domain

The domain of social work in the health field is recognized as prominent among the fields of practice. However, this accomplishment could generate problems in the relationship between the health field and the profession itself. An unfortunate outcome would be the over-determination of health (or illness) in the psychosocial definitions of problems. Owing to the effectiveness of the work done in health, it could blur its boundaries with other fields, and in so diminishing the notion of domain altogether, the profession could tilt toward a health rather than a social work identification. Definition of domain will require more than adherence to methods, skills and values; mastery of a well-defined field-specific knowledge base would appear to be the most significant distinguishing characteristic of this and other fields of practice.