Social workers respond to the AIDS epidemic in an acute care hospital

Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) has had dramatic effects on hospital staff, particularly social workers. However, little documentation exists of how hospitals and their social work departments have responded to the myriad needs of people with human immunodeficiency virus-related conditions. Patterns of social work service delivery to 152 persons with AIDS at St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center in New York City were reviewed. Gaps were identified; in particular, social workers provided services to only 40 percent of the identified persons with AIDS. The need for staff education and training, dedicated resources for services to persons with AIDS, and increased out-of-hospital services are discussed.