An ecological perspective on social work practice in health care.

The ecological perspective conceptualizes the social work "case" as the patient and relevant features of his life space, including the health organization itself. The perspective requires a dual and simultaneous focus on the coping tasks of patient and family and on the coping supports that must be provided by the health organization. Four prescriptions for humanizing health care are suggested, and their congruence with social work purpose, roles, and practice domain is developed.