Skip to main content

2019_6_socialcap

Social capital is a new concept to physical therapist practice that has the potential to facilitate interprofessional and intraprofessional relationships. Personally, I think it is very exciting to see how ideas from sociology literature can make a difference for physical therapists and health care at large.

By definition social capital is the advantage created by a person’s location in a structure of relationships. It explains how people perform better because they are connected with others.1,2 The principles of social capital are at work in the health care environment when it comes to clinical practice, teamwork, and training, and can strengthen the development of interprofessional education. The three primary forms of social capital include broker, closed, and partner networks.

Log in or create a free account to keep reading.


Join APTA to get unlimited access to content.

  • Burt R. Brokerage & Closure: An Introduction to Social Capital. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press; 2013. 
  • Strategic leadership course. University of Chicago, Booth School of Business; Summer 2016; Chicago, IL.

You Might Also Like...

Article

Proposed 2025 HH Rule: 1.7% Cut; CoP Changes Would Improve Accountability

Jul 3, 2024

While payment cuts would continue as fallout from the Patient-Driven Groupings Model, CMS also proposes changes to create more transparency in accepting

Column

Viewpoints: July 2024

Jul 1, 2024

President's Note; Opinion

Column

Defining Moment: The Big Impact of a Tiny Human Being

Jul 1, 2024

Decades later, one PT recounts the lasting impression of a very special patient.