Allen Barsky’s podcast on technology in social work emphasizes maintaining client confidentiality and professional boundaries in technology-based communication. This is critical when using an EHR, telehealth, or even phone calls to communicate with a client's family member. I plan to maintain clear boundaries on social media by not friending previous or current clients on any social media platform. I, of course, would ensure that all patient information remains confidential, and follow ethical standards in all technology-related interactions (the use of telehealth, for example). This section reinforces the importance of being proactive and cautious about ethics in clinical practice relating to technology in social work.

On the detox unit I'm placed on, I see how structural inequities like limited access to behavioral health services, socioeconomic barriers, and stigma around addiction, all directly impact patients’ recovery. This section emphasizes the social worker’s responsibility to advocate for systemic change and challenge power biases. I wish this code offered more guidance for navigating institutional barriers, especially in healthcare settings where policies might limit autonomy for patients with more complex needs.

In my fieldwork, I am working with patients who struggle with substance use and co-occurring mental health diagnoses like Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder. This principle resonates because I have observed and encountered patients who resist treatment due to past experiences with stigma. Upholding the dignity and worth of patients, reminds me how important it is to respect their autonomy while simultaneously providing guidance for safe decision-making. It reflects the ethical importance of balancing client self-determination with clinical responsibility for proper treatment.