From Formal Recognition To Substantive Recognition: A Study On The Integration Of Accredited Medical Social Workers Into The Hospital Field

With the help of national policies,various regions and medical institutions in China have begun to try to explore the development path of medical social work that meets their own needs.The H Provincial Hospital Association and Foundation developed medical social work with medical social workers as the carrier by building the "Y" project.However,in the early stage of the project,in the process of dispatching medical social workers to carry out services,they encountered the alienation of medical staff in the landing department,and the doubts of patients and their families in the ward.With the in-depth practice of the stationed medical social workers,the service results have gradually appeared,and the medical social work has gradually been recognized by medical staff,patients and their families.Through interviews with 11 medical social workers stationed in the project,this study first presents the common dilemmas encountered by medical social workers in the process of providing services in the hospital.Secondly,after combing the interview data,the recognition theory was used to analyze the recognition process of medical staff,patients and their families for medical social work.Finally,the action strategies of social workers stationed in medical staff to obtain recognition from medical staff,patients and their families are refined and summarized.The study finds that: first,the recognition process of medical staff is from alienation to cooperation,and has gone through four stages: doubtful alienation,active referral,joint cooperation,and identity internalization;The recognition process of patients and their families is from vigilance to acceptance,and has gone through four stages: guard rejection,hesitation and waitand-see,active help,and recognition and acceptance,all of which are from formal recognition to substantive recognition.Second,the strategies adopted by medical social workers for different recognition subjects are different.In order to obtain recognition from medical staff,medical social workers are assigned to clarify their own scope of functions and roles;Seek a basis for collaboration with healthcare professionals;Present the service process and service effect;Optimize strategies such as service methods.In order to obtain recognition from patients and their families,medical social workers are assigned to clarify their identities in an appropriate manner;Respond positively to the substantial needs of patients and their families;Effectively solve the practical problems of patients and their families;Strategies such as respecting the wishes and self-determination of patients and families.The above research conclusions show that the key to the integration of medical social workers into the hospital field to carry out professional services smoothly and give full play to the effectiveness of medical social work lies in obtaining recognition from the medical staff,patients and families of the department.Therefore,it is necessary to dispatch medical social workers to effectively improve service capabilities under the guidance of value concepts and theoretical methods,and promote medical social work to take root in medical institutions.