A professional who assists patients and their families with personal and environmental difficulties which predispose illness or interfere with obtaining maximum benefits from medical care. Responsibilities include:

• Works in close collaboration with physicians and other health care personnel in patient evaluation and treatment to further their understanding of significant social and emotional factors underlying patient's health problem.
• Helps patient and family through individual or group conferences to understand, accept, and follow medical recommendations.
• Provides service planned to restore patient to optimum social and health adjustment within patient's capacity.
• Utilizes community resources to assist patient to resume life in community or to learn to live within limits of disability.
• Prepares patient histories, service plans, and reports.
• Participates in planning for improving health services by interpreting social factors pertinent to development of program.
• Provides general direction and supervision to workers engaged in clinic home service program activities.
• Works in general hospitals, clinics, rehabilitation centers, drug and alcohol abuse centers, or related health programs.
• May be employed as consultant in other agencies.
• Usually required to have knowledge and skill in casework methods acquired through degree program at school of social work.