Relationships between Social Work Involvement and Hospice Outcomes: Results of the National Hospice Social Work Survey

In a struggle to balance fiscal realities with hospice philosophy, some hospices have attempted to cut costs by reducing social work involvement. This cross-sectional survey of 66 hospices found, however, increased social work involvement was significantly associated with lower hospice costs. Additional benefits included better team functioning, more issues addressed by the social worker on the team, reduced medical services, and fewer visits by other team members, along with increased client satisfaction and lower severity of case. The authors concluded that higher salaries should be paid to a sufficient number of highly educated and experienced social workers. These social workers should be dedicated solely to the hospice social worker position, should participate in intake interviews, and should be supervised by a social worker.