title: Utilizing data to improve practice in hospital social work: a case study.
abstract: Health care social work has made important progress in developing methods for assuring and improving the quality of services provided, using tools such as computerized information systems. This paper presents a case study demonstrating utilization of preliminary data generated by such a system, focusing on problem identification and professional interventions. Successive stages in the process of data application are described: definition of quality assurance issues; validation of data; hypothesis formation; in-depth analysis through case examples; and formation of change strategies. Results of the application and its implications for practice are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Work, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ben Shahar
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Auslander
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cohen
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006751:Hospital Information Systems; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology*; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D012947:Social Work / Q000193:education / Q000592:standards*; D012948:Social Work Department, Hospital / Q000592:standards*; D013192:Staff Development