Clinical social work in a medical setting.

This paper, using case vignette and discussion, will elaborate on two specific functions of the clinical social worker practicing in a medical setting. The first, helping patient, family and staff to acknowledge the psychological impact of physical illness; the second is helping a family to accept that there may be no organic etiology for a symptom, and that the symptom may be psychogenic in origin. Barriers to performing these functions are discussed as well as reasons why the social worker is in an ideal position to integrate medical and psychological information into a coherent and practical treatment plan.