Enhancing Equitable Access to Patient Accommodation: A Social Work–Led Systems Intervention in Urban Public Healthcare

Background: In urban public hospitals across India, socioeconomically disadvantaged patients frequently lack access to safe, affordable accommodation during treatment. This not only disrupts care continuity but also erodes patient dignity. Methods: This case study from a Tata Memorial Hospital in Mumbai, India, outlines a systems-level intervention that replaced administrative personnel with Medical Social Workers (MSWs) to coordinate with accommodation centers. Emphasis was placed on proactive communication, ethical oversight, and patient-centered follow-up. Results: The intervention resulted in a six fold increase in daily room availability—from 5–6 to over 30—and enabled patients to choose among options. Follow-up calls with both accommodated and non-accommodated patients informed continual refinement of the system and reinforced trust. Conclusion: The findings underscore the power of empathy-driven systems thinking in bridging operational gaps and promoting health equity through a low-cost, scalable model.