Karra Bikson
Clinical Associate Professor of Social Work | USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work
Los Angeles, CA, UNITED STATES
Medical social worker with research focus on organizational change and diffusion of innovation.
Biography
Dr. Bikson is a clinical associate professor in the Virtual Academic Center. Bikson’s career integrates social work education, practice and research, with an emphasis in health care and gerontology. She has taught social welfare policy and advocacy, research and program evaluation, human behavior in the social environment, gerontology, grief and bereavement, death and dying. Bikson’s clinical work primarily has been in the area of palliative care, hospice and emergency department practice. Her research interests have multiple foci, including innovation diffusion, organizational change, interdisciplinary team service technology, primarily employing case study and qualitative research methodologies. Bikson’s current research centers on palliative care as an innovative interdisciplinary team technology.
Education (4)
University of California: PhD, Social Welfare 2007
University of California: MSW, Social Work 2000
San Francisco State University: MA, Gerontology 1997
University of California: BA, Psychology 1986
Areas of Expertise (12)
Advocacy and Social Justice
Organizational Change
Hospice and Palliative Care
Death and Dying
Health Policy
Social Work Education
Social Work
Gerontology
Grief and Bereavement
Human Behavior
Social Welfare Policy
Medical Social Work
Industry Expertise (2)
Research
Education/Learning
Accomplishments (3)
Young Investigators Award (professional)
2010 American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine
Paper Award, (professional)
2010 American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM)
Scholarship Award (professional)
2007 College of Palliative Care, AAHPM Annual Assembly
Affiliations (6)
- American Society on Aging (ASA)
- Gerontological Society of America (GSA)
- National Association of Social Workers (NASW)
- Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues (SPSSI)
- Society for Social Work & Research (SSWR)
- Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
Research Articles & Publications (1)
Psychosocial problems in primary care: Patient and provider perceptions
Social Work in Health Care
Bikson, K., McGuire, J., Blue-Howells, J., & Seldin-Sommer, L.
2009 Primary care physicians and clinics have become the frontline of health care for most Americans—they are the first point of contact and the source of both treatment and referrals. Psychosocial problems, such as difficulty with finances, family, housing, and work, are associated with a high demand for medical care in primary care practice, yet little is known about the prevalence of psychosocial problems in primary care settings. The purpose of this study is to assess the type and level of psychosocial problems in primary care patients by examining patient and provider perceptions at the Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System (VAGLAHS). A purposive sample of 684 veterans and a convenience sample of 59 providers anonymously completed the Social Needs Checklist. Patients reported an average of five psychosocial problems, with finances, personal stress, transportation, employment, and legal issues being the most prevalent. Thirty-two percent of patients indicated a desire to see a social worker. Provider and patient differences were compared. Provider estimates of patients' problems were consistently lower than patient estimates in all psychosocial problem areas except need for nursing home placement and problem drinking or drug use. Implications for social work in primary care are discussed.
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