What is a core responsibility of social workers in health care?

Offering support and resources to patients is a fundamental responsibility of social workers in the health care setting. This role involves helping individuals navigate the complexities of the health care system, identifying community resources, and providing emotional support during challenging times. Social workers assist patients in coping with social, emotional, and financial issues that arise as a result of their health conditions, ensuring that they have access to the necessary services and support for their overall well-being.

In context, providing mental health therapy typically falls under the purview of licensed mental health professionals, such as psychologists or counselors, rather than social workers alone. Assigning codes for medical billing is a task that would be performed by medical coders and billing specialists, not social workers, whose focus is more on patient care than administrative tasks. Planning surgery procedures is the domain of surgeons and medical professionals involved in surgical care, not social workers, who concentrate on the psychosocial aspects of patient care.