Research On System And Polices Of Medical Social Work In China

1. Research PurposesUnder the big picture of improving social welfare system in China, and the establishment of a harmonious society, carrying out medical social work and building a healthy and harmonious relations between doctors and patients, have been placed as an effective method to realize the achievement of "the establishment of basic medical and health system to achieve universal accesses to basic health services". Referring to international as well as domestic experiences, explore the concept, content, theoretical foundation, information and development of medical social work, analyze the current status of medical social work system and existing problems in China, construct a basic framework for our medical social work, and raise some suggestions to promote the work. In order to improve the service capacity of health system, build a harmonious relation with doctors and patients, and achieve the objectives of health reformation.2. Research MethodsThis study has searched comprehensive literature database and Internet resources; collected information regarded with the country, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Civil Affairs, Ministry of Personnel and other Government agencies; and conducted theoretical researches and case studies. Primarily use strategic normative analysis, normative analysis of macro policy, induction, deduction and comparative analysis. In addition, carry out empirical researches, such as questionnaires, studies on typical cases and experts' consultation, which are aiming for the development of our medical social work.3. Research ContentsThis study primarily includes four aspects:Firstly, investigate the concept, content and theoretical basis of medical social work; secondly, describe the current development status of medical social work in China, and analyze major existing problems; thirdly, summarize laws and experiences of medical social work, and analyze possible inspirations for China to develop medical social work; fourthly, construct the system and policies of medical social work and propose recommendations.4. Research Results(1) Concept of Medical Social Work in ChinaOn the foundation of a conclusion on the international development of medical social work, and in view of the present stage of social development and medical and health system, medical social work in China is defined as:professional social workers, who mainly provide psychological care and social welfare in hospitals and other medical institutions, are professionals who delicate to patients with "non-medical diagnosis and non-clinical treatment", with solving psychological and social problems.(2) Theoretical Basis of Medical Social Work in ChinaFrom a great number of social work theories, those theories that are most suitable to our social surroundings and medical culture, and most powerful to guide the implementation of medical social work are selected. There are Social welfare basic theory (mainly includes human needs theory and the theory of Marshall Citizenship), psycho-social theory, ecological systems theory, empowerment theory, and crisis intervention theory. These theoretical perspectives can also provide theoretical guidance, conceptual framework, analytical tools, knowledge systems and a fundamental perspective to look at medical social work. Various theories treat the relationship between illness and health from different aspects, and guide social workers to deal with different sickness under different circumstances. Differentiated theoretical analysis framework need to be applied flexibly and reasonably by medical social workers.(3) Current Status of Medical Social Work in ChinaOverall, medical social work is currently developing slowly in China. The existing mode of medical social work practice can be summarized as 6 major modes including history patterns, social work progression, and public relations management, medical dispute processing mode, rehabilitation medical model and volunteer service management. Medical social worker force is limited, and mostly allocated in public hospitals located in big cities like Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen. The majority of medical social workers are transformed from health care, with only a rare minority of social work major graduates, as a result of difficulty to meet the needs of patients and hospitals. There is not yet a unified national scope of duties and substance for medical social work services, but primarily concentrated on clinical medical services, prevention and deduction of medical disputes, however, direct social services or economic donation for patients as well as families and others are still limited. At present, lack of social welfare, social work and other relevant legislation, absence of basic knowledge of social work and social awareness in regulations, policies, and health system, vague career path for medical social workers, and difficult to satisfy the social requirement, and so forth trouble, ultimately is because of the framework of medical social work, which is desperately needed for health system.(4) Enlightenment from the Medical Social Work in United States, United Kingdom, Hong Kong and TaiwanFirst of all, medical social work cannot exist without social welfare. Secondly, government always plays an important leading role in many aspects such as drawing up policies, system security, fund and monitoring services in developing specialized medical social work. Thirdly, standardized services should be the key as well as an assurance for quality control. Fourthly, education system needs to be continuously improved along with social needs. Finally, mature civil organizations are critical to develop the medical social work.(5) System of the Medical Social Work in ChinaClarify medical social work in the health system in our functional position and role, scope of work and detailed services. Establish the system, regulation, qualified personal and collection of funding to construct fundament medical social work in China. Core parts are education and training standards, and assessment of medical social workers. (6) Recommendations on Pushing Forward the Medical Social Work in ChinaHospitals can be a prior media of promoting the medical social work, by using a series of policies to assist, and then, popularize it to a wider range on this ground, gradually form a system with Chinese features for medical social work.5. Research InnovationThis study is the first systematic and comprehensive analysis of medical social work in China, and the concepts, content and theoretical basis of medical social work are put forward. In addition, during the time of deepening medical and health system reformation and constructing a harmonious society, this study preliminarily built a system framework for and promoted detailed policies for the medical social work in China, which establishes a Chinese medical social work system, and offers suggestions to decision making of Health Administrative Department.