Increased Collaboration Helps Broaden Understanding of Social Work's Crucial Role in Healthcare

Indiana University's new Interprofessional Simulation Center hosts interdisciplinary workshops to teach students the importance of social work in healthcare. At the facility, learners from different programs, such as the School of Social Work and the School of Nursing, work alongside each other in simulated scenarios. "We do this early in their education so this type of teamwork and collaboration doesn't seem so foreign," says Tammi Nelson in the School of Social Work. Participants and observers comment on what went well and what could be improved following exercises. Having peers and professionals in close proximity can foster a wider understanding of social work's contribution to healthcare. Social workers can help patients overcome obstacles to addressing their healthcare problems, improving outcomes. "A lot of the times I feel like our profession is overlooked or people make a lot of assumptions about what social work is and what it isn't," says School of Social Work graduate student Kirsten Fox. "This is giving us a really great opportunity to be part of the team." Such growing recognition is enabling collaboration between the School of Social Work and other fields and can transform healthcare professionals' approach to community health issues.

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