The Impact of Integrating Health and Social Care on Patient Outcomes: Exploring the Roles of Family Physicians and Social Workers

Abstract

Health care systems increasingly recognize the need to integrate health and social care to improve patient outcomes, particularly with rising rates of infectious and chronic diseases that require multiple and complex care. This review explores the role of family physicians and social workers within integrated health care systems, focusing on how their collaboration contributes to more effective patient management. Family physicians coordinate care, advocate for patients, and make key decisions that shape health care delivery. Social workers address social determinants of health, foster strong patient-clinicrelationships, and ensure that patients receive comprehensive care. Integrating these two professions improves patient outcomes, reduces health care costs, and improves quality of life by addressing medical and psychosocial needs. However, challenges such as administrative barriers, financial constraints, and organizational inefficiencies remain, hindering the widespread implementation of integrated models.