Frameworks for Advancing Health Equity: Social Work and Complex Care Navigation

Victor Murray, MSW, senior director of Community Engagement and Capacity Building at the Camden Coalition, delves into the evolving role of social workers in this episode of Managed Care Cast's Frameworks for Advancing Health Equity series. Murray highlights how social work has expanded beyond traditional direct services to encompass systems change, health equity initiatives, and policy advocacy. This broader scope is crucial amidst a complex landscape marked by rising mental health challenges, an aging population, and persistent health disparities. Social workers, equipped with a holistic, person-centered approach, play a pivotal role in navigating these challenges and integrating social determinants of health into care strategies.

Bridging gaps between health care providers and underserved communities relies on social workers. Murray shares how the coalition's innovative Camden Core model exemplifies community-based care intervention by advocating for patient needs, especially when individuals face challenges in navigating health care systems compounded by issues like housing instability and transportation barriers.

Looking ahead, Murray outlines key structural and policy changes needed to further integrate social work into health care models. These include fairer funding and reimbursement models, clearer national standards for telehealth, and greater recognition within interdisciplinary care teams. He projects a future where social work continues to evolve through technology integration and specialization in areas like geriatrics and behavioral health, all while maintaining a strong ethical and human-centered approach.

"There's greater diversity for how social workers can be used, even within institutions and organizations," from direct service to research, curriculum design, and strategy oversight. Murray emphasizes the profession's ongoing commitment to advocacy and transformative change in striving for equitable health care access.

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