Syllabus
Master of Social Work
SSWO 575 – Social Work In Healthcare Settings
Credits - 3
Description
This course will provide the graduate MSW student with a general understanding of social work roles and responsibilities when working in Health Care settings such as hospitals, skilled nursing facilities and clinics. Students will learn and demonstrate gained knowledge and practice skills when assisting others of all ages in these settings.
Areas to be addressed include medical terminology, biopsychosocial assessment for health care settings, treatment planning, professional interdisciplinary team collaboration, leadership and social work ethics.
Materials
Learning Objectives and Outcomes
School of Social Work Program Outcomes:
Graduates of the UNE SSWO will demonstrate knowledge, skills, and leadership in the following:
- Demonstrates ethical and professional behavior.
- Advance human rights and social, racial, economic, and environmental justice.
- Engage in anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion (ADEI) in practice.
- Engage in practice-informed research and research-informed practice.
- Engage in policy practice.
- Engage with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
- Assess individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
- Intervene with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
- Evaluate practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
- Describe the evolution of social work practice and the various roles and responsibilities of a social worker in health care settings including, but not limited to case management, crisis intervention, advocacy, assessment, planning, referral, networking, cultural competency and interdisciplinary professional relationships. EPAS,8
- Demonstrate ethical social work practice in health care settings including the use of technology. EPAS 1,6,7.
- Illustrate the ability to acknowledge and accommodate the diversity of others in social work practice skills. EPAS 2,3
- Analyze the organizational structure of the health care systems and their influences at a micro/mezzo/macro level of social work practice. This includes Federal/State policy, procedures that also impact the delivery of health care services. EPAS 5.
Assignments
Full assignment requirements, rubrics, and due dates for all learning activities are provided in the course.
Whole Class Discussions
You will be asked to post one initial response to Discussion Questions each week, and then make a minimum of 2 peer response comments to each Discussion prompt. Postings must meet the criteria for substantiveness to earn the maximum points available.
Reflective Journals
Throughout the course, you will respond to Reflective Journal prompts. There is no length requirement for the contributions you make to this entry; however, your reflection must demonstrate comprehension and application of what you gained from this experience and how it will hinder or assist your work with others. You may also submit a video or audio recording of this reflection in lieu of a written journal.
Week 4: Interview with a Medical Social Worker Assignment
In Week 4, you are to submit a written assignment summarizing and reflecting on an interview conducted with a medical social worker. Detailed guidelines for this assignment are provided in Brightspace; any questions can be directed to your course faculty. Be sure to schedule your interview in advance of the Week 4 due date.
Week 7: Social Work Practice with Technology in Health Care Settings Assignment
This written assignment provides the student with the opportunity to expand upon the use of technology in health care settings beyond the general discussion within the course.
Grading Policy
The School of Social Work uses the following grading system for all courses with the exception of field education courses. Students are expected to maintain a “B” (3.0) average over the course of their study. Students with less than a GPA of 3.0 will be placed on academic probation. Students must have an overall GPA of 3.0 in order to receive their Master’s Degree.
Your grade in this course will be determined by the following criteria:
Grade Breakdown
| Assignment | Points | Grade Percentage % |
|---|---|---|
| Acknowledgement of Academic Engagement | 1 pt. | 1% |
| Discussions | 16 DQ(2.5 points) x 8 weeks (40 Pts.) | 40% |
| Reflective Journals | 2.25 points x 4 weeks (9 pts.) | 9% |
| Written Assignment: Social Work Practice with Technology in Healthcare Settings | 25 Pts. | 25% |
| Interview with a Medical Social Worker Assignment | 25 Pts. | 25% |
Grade Scale
| Grade | Points Grade | Point Average (GPA) |
| A | 94 – 100% | 4.00 |
| A- | 90 – 93% | 3.75 |
| B+ | 87 – 89% | 3.50 |
| B | 84 – 86% | 3.00 |
| B- | 80 – 83% | 2.75 |
| C+ | 77 – 79% | 2.50 |
| C | 74 – 76% | 2.00 |
| C- | 70 – 73% | 1.75 |
| D | 64 – 69% | 1.00 |
| F | 00 – 63% | 0.00 |
Schedule
Week 1: Jun 28 – Jul 4
Week 2: Jul 5 – Jul 11
Week 3: Jul 12 – Jul 18
Week 4: Jul 19 – Jul 25
Week 5: Jul 26 – Aug 1
Week 6: Aug 2 – Aug 8
Week 7: Aug 9 – Aug 15
Week 8: Aug 16 – Aug 20
Week 1: Introduction to history and evolution of social work roles in health care and responsibilities.
Assignments:
Acknowledgement of Academic Engagement
Week 1 Discussion 1 (Introductions)
Week 1 Discussion 2
Week 1 Discussion 3
Week 2: Clinical Social Work Practice Skills. Medical Terminology
Assignments:
Week 2 Discussion 1
Week 2 Discussion 2
Week 2 Reflective Journal
Week 3 : Documentation Expectation, EHR, Telehealth
Assignments:
Week 3 Discussion 1
Week 3 Discussion 2
Week 4: Types of Healthcare Settings: Acute, Ambulatory in the Community
Assignments:
Week 4 Discussion 1
Week 4 Discussion 2
Week 4 Assignment: Medical Social Worker Interview
Week 5: Case Management and Discharge Planning
Week 5 Discussion 1
Week 5 Reflective Journal
Week 6: Social Work in the Public Health System
Assignments:
Week 6 Discussion 1
Week 6 Discussion 2
Week 6 Reflective Journal
Week 7: Hospice, Advanced Directives and Palliative Care
Week 7 Discussion 1
Week 7 Discussion 2
Week 7 Assignment: Social Work Practice with Technology
Week 8: The Direction of Social Work in HealthCare Today
Week 8 Discussion 1
Week 8 Discussion 2
Week 8 Reflective Journal
Student Resources
Online Student Support
Your Student Support Specialist is a resource for you. Please don't hesitate to contact them for assistance, including, but not limited to course planning, current problems or issues in a course, technology concerns, or personal emergencies.
Questions? Visit the Student Support Social Work page
UNE Libraries:
- Library Access for all students: Your library login ID and password are the same as the ones you use to log into Brightspace.
- Social Work Databases: https://library.une.edu/library-materials/find/research-by-subject/social-work/
- Library Questions: Ask a librarian or phone library staff at (207) 602-2361 or (207) 221-4330.
Information Technology Services (ITS)
ITS Contact: Toll Free Help Desk 24 hours/7 days per week at 1-877-518-4673
Accommodations
Any student who would like to request, or ask any questions regarding, academic adjustments or accommodations must contact the Student Access Center at (207) 221-4438 or pcstudentaccess@une.edu. Student Access Center staff will evaluate the student's documentation and determine eligibility of accommodation(s) through the Student Access Center registration procedure.
Online Peer Support
Togetherall is a 24/7 communication and emotional support platform monitored by trained clinicians. It’s a safe place online to get things off your chest, have conversations, express yourself creatively, and learn how to manage your mental health. If sharing isn’t your thing, Togetherall has other tools and courses to help you look after yourself with plenty of resources to explore. Whether you’re struggling to cope, feeling low, or just need a place to talk, Togetherall can help you explore your feelings in a safe supportive environment. You can join Togetherall using your UNE email address.
Information Technology Services (ITS)
Students should notify their Student Support Specialist and instructor in the event of a problem relating to a course. This notification should occur promptly and proactively to support timely resolution.
ITS Contact: Toll-Free Help Desk 24 hours/7 days per week at 1-877-518-4673.
Career Ready Program
The College of Professional Studies supports its online students and alumni in their career journey!
The Career Ready Program provides tools and resources to help students explore and hone in on their career goals, search for jobs, create and improve professional documents, build professional network, learn interview skills, grow as a professional, and more. Come back often, at any time, as you move through your journey from career readiness as a student to career growth, satisfaction, and success as alumni.
Policies
Essential Academic and Technical Standards
Please review the essential academic and technical standards of the University of New England School Social Work (SSW): https://online.une.edu/social-work/academic-and-technical-standards-une-online-ssw/
Turnitin Originality Check and Plagiarism Detection Tool
The College of Professional Studies uses Turnitin to help deter plagiarism and to foster the proper attribution of sources. Turnitin provides comparative reports for submitted assignments that reflect similarities in other written works. This can include, but is not limited to, previously submitted assignments, internet articles, research journals, and academic databases.
Make sure to cite your sources appropriately as well as use your own words in synthesizing information from published literature. Webinars and workshops, included early in your coursework, will help guide best practices in APA citation and academic writing.
You can learn more about Turnitin in the guide on how to navigate your Similarity Report.
Technology Requirements
Please review the technical requirements for UNE Online Graduate Programs: Technical Requirements
Confidentiality Statement
Student and faculty participation in this course will be governed by standards in the NASW Code of Ethics relating to confidentiality in sharing information from their placement sites and practice experiences. Students should be aware that personal information they choose to share in class, class assignments or conversations with faculty does not have the status of privileged information.
Late Policy
Assignments: Late assignments will be accepted up to 3 days late; however, there is a 10% grade reduction (from the total points) for the late submission. After three days the assignment will not be accepted.
Discussion posts: If the initial post is submitted late, but still within the discussion board week, there will be a 10% grade reduction from the total discussion grade (e.g., a 3 point discussion will be reduced by 0.3 points). Any posts submitted after the end of the Discussion Board week will not be graded.
Please make every effort ahead of time to contact your instructor and your student support specialist if you are not able to meet an assignment deadline. Arrangements for extenuating circumstances may be considered by faculty.
Attendance Policy
8 week: Students taking online graduate courses through the College of Professional Studies will be administratively dropped for non-participation if a graded assignment/discussion post is not submitted before Sunday at 11:59 pm ET of the first week of the term. Reinstatement is at the purview of the Dean's Office.
16 week: Students taking online graduate courses through the College of Professional Studies will be administratively dropped for non-participation if a graded assignment/discussion post is not submitted before Friday at 11:59 pm ET of the second week of the term. Reinstatement is at the purview of the Dean's Office.
Student Handbook Online - Policies and Procedures
The policies contained within this document apply to all students in the College of Professional Studies. It is each student's responsibility to know the contents of this handbook.
UNE Course Withdrawal
Please contact your student support specialist if you are considering dropping or withdrawing from a course. The last day to drop for 100% tuition refund is the 2nd day of the course. Financial Aid charges may still apply. Students using Financial Aid should contact the Financial Aid Office prior to withdrawing from a course.
Academic Integrity
The University of New England values academic integrity in all aspects of the educational experience. Academic dishonesty in any form undermines this standard and devalues the original contributions of others. It is the responsibility of all members of the University community to actively uphold the integrity of the academy; failure to act, for any reason, is not acceptable. For information about plagiarism and academic misconduct, please visit UNE Plagiarism Policies.
Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to the following:
- Cheating, copying, or the offering or receiving of unauthorized assistance or information.
- Fabrication or falsification of data, results, or sources for papers or reports.
- Action which destroys or alters the work of another student.
- Multiple submissions of the same paper or report for assignments in more than one course without permission of each instructor.
- Plagiarism, the appropriation of records, research, materials, ideas, or the language of other persons or writers and the submission of them as one's own.
Charges of academic dishonesty will be reviewed by the Program Director. Penalties for students found responsible for violations may depend upon the seriousness and circumstances of the violation, the degree of premeditation involved, and/or the student’s previous record of violations. Appeal of a decision may be made to the Dean whose decision will be final. Student appeals will take place through the grievance process outlined in the student handbook.