Early Identification and Management of Socially and Psychologically Driven Care Escalation in Hospitalized Patients: Collaborative Roles of Nurses, Social Workers, and Psychologists
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22399/ijcesen.4689Keywords:
Socially and Psychologically Driven Care Escalation (SPDCE), Interprofessional Collaboration, Nurses, Social Workers, Psychologists, Early IdentificationAbstract
Socially and Psychologically Driven Care Escalation (SPDCE) in hospitalized patients represents a critical challenge to healthcare systems, as it leads to prolonged stays, increased resource utilization, and poorer outcomes not due to medical complexity, but to unaddressed behavioral, emotional, and social crises. Effective management necessitates a fundamental shift from reactive, siloed interventions to a proactive, integrated model built upon the synergistic collaboration of nurses, social workers, and psychologists. Nurses act as frontline sensors, identifying early psychosocial "vital signs" and employing therapeutic communication. Social workers provide essential contextual expertise, navigating complex social determinants and systemic barriers to safe discharge. Psychologists contribute diagnostic clarity and develop individualized behavioral interventions to address underlying mental health and cognitive drivers. By unifying these distinct yet complementary roles through structured interprofessional practices—such as integrated rounding, shared risk assessment protocols, and trauma-informed care frameworks—healthcare teams can preemptively identify at-risk patients, mitigate escalation triggers, and foster a therapeutic environment that promotes patient dignity, enhances staff resilience, and optimizes institutional resource allocation, thereby transforming a source of clinical and operational strain into an opportunity for holistic, person-centered care.
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