Social Work Intervention of Stranded Patients from the Ecosystem Perspective: Based on the Clinical Case Record Analysis of Social Work Department in Shanghai D Hospital / 中国医学伦理学

Based on the service of stranded patients in D Hospital, this study aimed to explore the multiple needs of stranded patients and construct an intervention mode from the ecosystem perspective. Using the method of case study, taking the service of stranded patients in hospital D as an example, 49 case records and verbatim interviews with stakeholders were analyzed. The discharge and resettlement of stranded patients faces multiple obstacles from individuals, families, medical and social systems. This study constructed the social work intervention model from the ecosystem perspective: information collection and needs assessment, empowerment of individual system, reconstruction of family support system, coordination of medical system and linking social support system. The intervention process achieved efficient effects. Social work intervention of stranded patients should pay attention to patients’ psychosocial needs and improve awareness of system difficulties; mobilize the multi-system support network and deliver services in combination with case management method; conduct social advocacy for the breakthrough of law and policy.

Research on the Ethical Dilemmas of Medical Social Workers Involved in the Service Emergency Stranded Patients / 中国医学伦理学

The retention of emergency patients is a common problem faced by hospitals worldwide. In addition to medical problems, social, family, economic and other problems will also cause patients to stay in the emergency department. It not only brings challenges to patients’ own disease treatment and hospital operation and management, but also brings ethical dilemmas. Taking the service cases of medical social workers who involved in stranded patients in Shanghai E Hospital as an example, this paper analyzed 20 service records and interviews with social workers receiving cases, and combed the ethical dilemmas faced by medical social workers in the process of involving in emergency stranded patients. It was found that medical social workers faced many ethical dilemmas in the process of involving in emergency stranded patients, such as interpersonal relations and relevant legal regulations, the right to life and health and the right to informed consent, the self-determination of case owners and the allocation of medical resources. In this regard, it is suggested to solve the problem of patient retention by advocating the improvement of relevant systems and policies, building cooperative teams to smooth referral channels, strengthening education, and promoting family shared decision-making.