March 3, 2011

NCSSS Dean Moderates Congressional Briefing on Social Work and Health Care

Dean James Zabora, right, speaks at the Congressional briefing on social work and health care.
(Photo: NASW News)

As the panel discussion moderator at a recent Congressional briefing, Dean James Zabora outlined ways that the social work profession can impact health care reform.

Speaking at a Feb. 16 briefing at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, D.C., Zabora, dean of the National Catholic School of Social Service, noted how social workers could design interventions and programs that would significantly reduce health care spending.

"Given that one-third of all cancer patients (and there is evidence to indicate comparable rates among patients with cardiovascular disease and diabetes) experience significant distress that may interfere with the delivery of effective cancer therapies, it is highly unlikely that significant progress in health care reform can be achieved unless the need for the integration of mental health care is simultaneously addressed," he noted.

The event was sponsored by Rep. Edolphus Towns (D-N.Y.) and the Congressional Social Work Caucus. Congressman Towns invited Zabora to participate in the panel discussion because of his expertise in health care.

During his opening remarks, Zabora posed the question "How can the profession of social work actually impact health care reform?"

At the hearing, Zabora noted that his 20-year experience at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine made it clear that "health care reform in terms of access to care and the provision of health care services is essential."

"Undetected and untreated psychological distress may be transformed into somatic complaints such as fatigue, pain, or sleep disorders," Zabora explained. "Health care providers may assess these somatic complaints and respond with medications, lab tests, scans, or procedures."

These expensive treatments may continue until the real cause of the somatic problems - the psychological distress - is discovered, but not before unnecessary spending on medical treatments has occurred. Millions of patients with chronic diseases would benefit from an integrated health care system that includes access to essential mental health services, according to Zabora.

This was the first time Zabora had participated in such an event on Capitol Hill. On March 15, he will return to Capitol Hill to participate in the official launch of Social Work Month and the formal introduction of the newly formed Congressional Social Work Caucus composed of eight members of the U.S. House of Representatives who have master's degrees in social work.