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Health care social worker vs medical social worker

The differences between health care social workers and medical social workers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a health care social worker and a medical social worker. Additionally, a medical social worker has an average salary of $57,093, which is higher than the $42,237 average annual salary of a health care social worker.

The top three skills for a health care social worker include social work, patients and meal preparation. The most important skills for a medical social worker are social work, patients, and home health.

Health care social worker vs medical social worker overview

Health Care Social WorkerMedical Social Worker
Yearly salary$42,237$57,093
Hourly rate$20.31$27.45
Growth rate9%9%
Number of jobs210,97987,792
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 31%Master's Degree, 48%
Average age4545
Years of experience22

Health care social worker vs medical social worker salary

Health care social workers and medical social workers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Health Care Social WorkerMedical Social Worker
Average salary$42,237$57,093
Salary rangeBetween $31,000 And $56,000Between $42,000 And $77,000
Highest paying City-San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state-Alaska
Best paying company-Health Advocates
Best paying industry-Health Care

Differences between health care social worker and medical social worker education

There are a few differences between a health care social worker and a medical social worker in terms of educational background:

Health Care Social WorkerMedical Social Worker
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 31%Master's Degree, 48%
Most common majorSocial WorkSocial Work
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Health care social worker vs medical social worker demographics

Here are the differences between health care social workers' and medical social workers' demographics:

Health Care Social WorkerMedical Social Worker
Average age4545
Gender ratioMale, 21.2% Female, 78.8%Male, 14.3% Female, 85.7%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 19.9% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.3% Asian, 3.3% White, 58.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%Black or African American, 19.9% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.3% Asian, 3.3% White, 58.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage13%13%

Differences between health care social worker and medical social worker duties and responsibilities

Health care social worker example responsibilities.

  • Respond to and assist in behavioral codes working as a team member to successfully manage patient using methods obtain in CPI training
  • Assist in coordinating health care benefits with Medicare, Medicaid and private insurers.
  • Work with clients for fill basic home cleaning, cooking, and healthcare needs.
  • Aid in completion of any forms such as Medicaid, food stamps, etc.
  • Comply with HIPAA regulations regarding patient privacy and confidentiality.
  • Discharge planning for those resident under going short-term physical rehabilitation.
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Medical social worker example responsibilities.

  • Understand manage care, Medicare and Medicaid benefits.
  • Humanize the medical setting for elderly patients by using appropriate compassion in explaining complex information.
  • Provide crisis intervention, supportive counseling and trauma/grief counseling for patients and their families experiencing acute or chronic traumatic events.
  • Provide hands-on assessment and monitoring of suspect child abuse and neglect cases of children needing intensive rehabilitation and specialize care.
  • Provide social casework to patients having difficulty in social functioning, primarily as it affects their health and emotional rehabilitation.
  • Facilitate family counseling, crisis intervention, and assessments of specials population including geriatrics, homeless and substance abusing veterans.
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Health care social worker vs medical social worker skills

Common health care social worker skills
  • Social Work, 26%
  • Patients, 24%
  • Meal Preparation, 5%
  • Community Resources, 4%
  • Patient Care, 4%
  • Home Health, 4%
Common medical social worker skills
  • Social Work, 24%
  • Patients, 19%
  • Home Health, 11%
  • MSW, 7%
  • Patient Care, 6%
  • Crisis Intervention, 3%

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