Which role best describes social work in care coordination?

• A. Addresses psychosocial barriers, connects to community resources, and supports discharge planning and adherence
• B. Prescribes medications and adjusts therapy plans
• C. Schedules appointments and manages clinic calendars
• D. Oversees hospital budgeting and financial reporting

Answer: (A)

The role that best describes social work in care coordination centers on addressing psychosocial barriers, connecting patients to community resources, and supporting discharge planning and adherence. Social workers assess social determinants of health—things like housing stability, transportation, finances, caregiver support, and access to services—that often hinder a patient’s ability to recover and follow through after a hospitalization. By linking patients with appropriate community resources (home health, social services, community-based programs, financial assistance, transportation), they help remove barriers that could lead to readmission or poor outcomes. They also collaborate on discharge planning, ensuring the patient understands post-discharge instructions, has necessary supports in place, and can adhere to medications and follow-up appointments. This integrative role is distinct from medical management (prescribing medications and adjusting therapy plans), administrative scheduling (clinic calendars), or financial/governance tasks (budgeting and reporting), which lie outside the core scope of social work in care coordination.