Pennsylvania Code & Bulletin
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA

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The Pennsylvania Code website reflects the Pennsylvania Code changes effective through 53 Pa.B. 8238 (December 30, 2023).

Pennsylvania Code



CHAPTER 121. SOCIAL WORK SERVICES

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Sec.


121.1.    Principle.
121.2.    Organization and staffing.
121.3.    Organization plan.

POLICIES


121.11.    Principle.
121.12.    Referral.
121.13.    Plans.
121.14.    Coordination of social services.
121.15.    [Reserved].
121.16.    Patient medical records.

ORGANIZATION AND STAFFING


121.21.    Administration.
121.22.    Director.
121.23.    Staffing.

Cross References

   This chapter cited in 28 Pa. Code §  101.31 (relating to hospital requirements); and 55 Pa. Code §  6100.2 (relating to applicability).

GENERAL PROVISIONS


§ 121.1. Principle.

 Social work services shall be available to patients accepted for care as well as to their families in order to promote adequate social functioning and to encourage full and appropriate utilization of hospital resources.

Authority

   The provisions of this §  121.1 issued under 67 Pa.C.S. § §  6101—6104; and Reorganization Plan No. 2 of 1973 (71 P.S. §  755-2).

Source

   The provisions of this §  121.1 amended September 19, 1980, effective September 20, 1980, 10 Pa.B. 3761. Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (37859).

§ 121.2. Organization and staffing.

 Every hospital shall have a well-defined plan for providing social work services to patients with social problems. The method for providing social work services shall be clearly defined and shall provide for supervision of the delivery of such services by a qualified social worker or by an equally qualified consultant.

§ 121.3. Organization plan.

 The chief executive officer, or his designee, shall provide an organizational plan to identify the social service department or other program for providing social services and to specify the place of the department in the overall hospital organizational structure. The scope of social work services provided shall depend upon the size and complexity of the services of the hospital.

POLICIES


§ 121.11. Principle.

 The method for providing social work services shall be clearly stated, and there shall be written policies and procedures which the chief executive officer or the governing body shall review, revise as necessary, and date to include the time of last review.

§ 121.12. Referral.

 Patients or families, or both, with social problems not appropriate to be dealt with by hospital social work services should be referred to local community agencies.

§ 121.13. Plans.

 Plans for patients requiring social work services shall be established with primary emphasis placed on helping patients to fully utilize preadmission, inpatient, outpatient, extended care, and home health services. Social work services shall be provided on an interdisciplinary basis.

§ 121.14. Coordination of social services.

 Social work staff should assist in the coordination of hospital services, community programs, and appropriate educational and orientation programs for hospital personnel.

§ 121.15. [Reserved].


Source

   The provisions of this §  121.15 reserved September 19, 1980, effective September 20, 1980, 10 Pa.B. 3761. Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (37860).

§ 121.16. Patient medical records.

 Social work services delivered shall be recorded in the medical record of the patient.

ORGANIZATION AND STAFFING


§ 121.21. Administration.

 Where social work services are organized on a department basis, the director of the department shall have full responsibility for the administration of the social work programs and activities of the department. The department shall be integrated with other departments of the hospital, and its members shall participate in periodic inter-departmental meetings.

§ 121.22. Director.

 The director of the social work department shall be responsible for planning, organization, implementation, and management of the fiscal and personnel resources of the social work department and should be a member of appropriate hospital committees.

§ 121.23. Staffing.

 The staff of the social work department, when provided, should include graduate social workers or undergraduate social workers, or both, and supportive personnel in sufficient numbers to meet patient needs and perform the functions of the department effectively.



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