This book demonstrates how, in the rapidly evolving and often uncertain health-care industry, the role of social work will become increasingly significant. Social workers will have new opportunities to help improve the health of individuals, families and communities.

Focusing on four major health-care domains - acute care, ambulatory care, illness prevention/health promotion and long-term care - the author provides social workers with current, comprehensive information about the roles they can play and the skills they need in all aspects of health care. The book reviews the past and present of each of these fields, projects their major needs in the future, and identifies how social work can help to meet those needs.