Is It Time for Medical Social Work Training to Evolve? Insight Gained during COVID-19

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic exposed significant gaps in the preparation of medical social workers (MedSWs) for practice in complex healthcare environments. Despite MedSW being one of the largest and fastest-growing areas of social work practice, training remains inconsistent and is often relegated to elective coursework. This study examines how MedSW curricula can evolve to better prepare practitioners for post-pandemic healthcare systems. Methods: This qualitative study drew on semi-structured interviews with 54 medical social workers practicing in hospitals, dialysis centers, hospice, long-term care, and outpatient settings across the United States. Interviews were conducted via Zoom, audio-recorded, and transcribed verbatim. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis, incorporating both inductive coding and deductive alignment with the Council on Social Work Education’s Specialized Practice Curricular Guide for Health Social Work. Analytic memos and team consensus were used to enhance rigor. Results: Three overarching themes emerged regarding gaps in academic preparation for healthcare practice: general safety and crisis preparedness, health equity and structural competency, and bio-emotional care integrating physical and psychosocial health. Participants emphasized the need for training related to pandemic preparedness, interdisciplinary collaboration, advocacy, and holistic care approaches. These findings informed practical recommendations for curricular enhancements, including competency-aligned assignments and experiential learning strategies. Conclusions: Findings highlight a mismatch between the demands of contemporary healthcare practice and current MedSW training. Integrating targeted healthcare social work content into core curricula may strengthen workforce readiness, improve interdisciplinary collaboration, and enhance responses to future public health crises. These results support broader curricular reform to better align social work education with evolving healthcare systems and population needs.