The Future of Health: Integrating Social Work Into Health Care | Dell ... - Dell Medical School

"I believe health care and social work go hand in hand," said John David Moritz. "I chose to give to the Department of Health Social Work because of the partnership created between Dell Med and the Steve Hicks School. When my father was in hospice, I saw firsthand the importance of social work in the care he received. In fact, this is what my family remembers most about that time." The Moritz family hopes that their gift will bring awareness to the essential connection between health care and social work.

"The Moritz Family Scholarship for Social Work will motivate and encourage students who have chosen to dedicate their careers to health social work," said Allan Cole, Ph.D., dean of the Steve Hicks School of Social Work. "The Moritz family's support will allow more social workers to contribute their expertise to health care teams and patient care."

As for Frissell's patient, after 12 sessions of pain reprocessing therapy she was able to return to work — no hospitalization required. From Frissell's perspective, the therapy is more successful when social workers are fully integrated into the health care team, and when all members of the team — from physicians to physical therapists — understand the key role social workers play.

Karl Koenig, M.D., medical director of the Musculoskeletal Institute, is on board. "Our clinical outcomes in the Back and Neck Pain Center are some of the best I've ever seen — 65% of patients report improvement within six months. The combined approach that includes cognitive behavioral therapy and incorporating social workers in the coordination of follow-up care leads to massively improved outcomes," he said.

And that's evident to Frissell as well: "I'm able to truly partner with the physician to train patients in coping skills to turn down the nervous system response to stress and anxiety," she said. "In the same way you might work with a physical therapist to train muscles, you can work with a behavioral therapist to ensure your pain is better controlled."

Regarding Dell Med's Department of Health Social Work and the future of interprofessional education and care, Jones is optimistic.

"This department is the first of its kind in a medical school, but we don't want to be the last," Jones says. "We want what we've done here to be an invitation to others across the country. I believe that interprofessional education and collaborative practice is the way of the future." 

Adblock test (Why?)