The impact of organizational change on social work staffing in a hospital setting: a national,longitudinal study of social work in hospitals

Market forces continue to shape the health care environment, producing radical changes within the hospital. These changes are affecting social work structure, staffing, and processes within the hospital setting, particularly in the area of social work staffing. This paper examines the changes impacting hospital settings over three fiscal years. A primary question is whether or not social work staffing is being negatively impacted by these hospital changes, and what factors predict the downsizing of social work staff.