An expanded social work role in a university hospital-based group practice: service provider, physician educator and organizational consultant

This paper reports the development of social work role and functions in a primary medical group practice which was established to replace the general medical clinics of a large urban voluntary teaching hospital in an academic medical center. It traces the shaping and implementation of a role which is functionally integral to the care, teaching and research goals of the practice; is operationalized into its service delivery system; and utilizes a full range of sophisticated social work skills. Along with physicians and nurse practitioners, the social worker is a principal provider of patient care, as well as physician educator and organizational consultant who contributes to coordinated, comprehensive and resource conservative care. Implications for other settings are noted.