転院援助行為とソーシャルワーカーの日常活動

抄録

Since the goverment policy of tight control on payment to medical care was introduced, hospital managements have been trying to achieve a more effective use of hospital beds with the earliest possible discharge policy. Within the context, social workers in hospitals are expected to play more important role in discharge operations. However, they are also required to show their professional values and skills in supporting patients when they leave hospitals to their homes or to other hospitals. This study attempts to establish standards of support practice for discharge to other hospitals and identify the extent to which the standards are observed. It then goes to clarify the factors affecting the standard practices. A mail survey using questionnaire method was conducted with 189 hospital social workers in and around Tokyo area. It was revealed from the result that the social workers who show high standard of support practice are not likely to be involeved with major bed-control operations and tend to develop their work basis by advocating roles of social workers and attending team conferences etc. It was concluded from the study that the awareness by social workers of their important roles in supporting inpatients' discharge to other hospitals lead to a better performance in the practice.