Healthcare Social Workers

A healthcare social worker assists patients with making the necessary adjustments to his or her healthcare, lifestyle or housing after diagnosis or after release from a healthcare facility. They help patients and their families understand the illness or disease. Healthcare social workers also administer referrals to other services that patients may require or find useful.

Job Responsibilities

A healthcare social worker is responsible for giving psychosocial support to patients and helping them adjust their lifestyle, healthcare or housing. They may work in a specific field, such as medical social work, hospice, palliative care or geriatric social work. Generally, a healthcare social worker helps patients comprehend a diagnosis and supplies information on services that may help patients cope with their illness or disease. They inform family caregivers on the patient’s condition and provide referrals for other services the patient may need. A healthcare social worker also maintains the patient’s records.

An office setting is typical for healthcare social workers, but they may also have to travel to visit clients. In addition to working full time, they sometimes work weekends, evenings or holidays. They may also need to be on-call at times, as they must be available to respond to crisis situations. Social workers can work remotely via videoconferencing. However, the job can be stressful due to large caseloads.

Healthcare Social Worker Salary

As the youngest baby boomers – people born between 1946 and 1964 – are now in their 60s, there is an increased demand for healthcare and social services. Healthcare social workers earned a median salary of $60,280 in 2022, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). However, wages may differ due to experience, location and by employer. As the need to assist people with new lifestyles, treatments and medications increases, the BLS predicts that employment of healthcare social workers will grow 10 percent in the U.S. through 2032, more than triple the national average for all jobs.

Education Requirements

To begin a career as a healthcare social worker, one needs at least a bachelor’s in social work. Sometimes, employers will hire people with a psychology, sociology or related degree. In some states, healthcare social workers are required to be licensed. If one wishes to pursue a master’s degree in social work, he or she needs a bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology, sociology, political science, economics or another field.

Campbellsville University’s online bachelor’s in social work (BSW) and online master’s in social work (MSW) help students gain the knowledge they need for a career as a healthcare social worker. Through these programs, students will learn about social policies, crisis intervention and marriage and family relationships. They’ll be able to assist clients from a perspective that is backed by ethical and Christian beliefs. Our fully online programs allows students to conveniently complete their degree on their own time.