TVHS staff earn national recognition for critical research
Members of the Tennessee Valley Healthcare System Social Work Services team recently had a research article published in The Journal of Social Work in Public Health, a peer-reviewed national journal.
The research article, titled "Social Work’s Response during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Literature Review—Balancing Telemedicine with Social Work Self-Care during A Pandemic", was authored by Dr. Michael Sullivan-Tibbs and contributions made by the following team members:
- Dr. Catovia B. Rayner, DHA, MPH, MSW, LCSW
- David L. Crouch, LCSW
- Leslie A. Peck, LCSW
- Margaret A. Bell, LCSW
- Allen D. Hasting, LCSW
- Allision J. Nativo, LMSW
- Katie M. Mallinger, LMSW
The article explores the impact of telemedicine on social work care, best practices for virtual health care, current responses to the COVID-19 pandemic within the social work field, and self-care techniques used by social workers.
"The impetus for our research was the question of how social workers were collectively handling their practice during a global crisis," Dr. Sullivan-Tibbs said. "A group of social workers here at TVHS decided to explore how switching from face-to-face care to using digital platforms for care delivery affected social work. These social workers seemed to know instinctively that nontraditional methods for providing services would be the new normal during COVID-19."
Dr. Sullivan-Tibbs further explained how the research shows the importance of social work at VA and other health care facilities.
"This work shows that social work, as both an academic discipline and a practice-based discipline, is a formattable scientific research entity that contributes to the overall health care of those we serve," he said.
To read more about the research, visit The Journal of Social Work in Public Health or contact Dr. Sullivan-Tibbs.