Social work in the healthcare system plays a crucial role in improving patient care quality through a holistic approach that integrates medical, psychological, and social aspects. Social workers provide emotional support, education, and assistance with adjustment, contributing to better management of complex health situations and enhancing patients' quality of life. Their presence in multidisciplinary teams significantly improves treatment outcomes. In Croatia, social workers make up only 1% of healthcare professionals, reflecting their insufficient recognition and visibility within the healthcare system. Despite their important role in patient integration and rehabilitation, they face numerous challenges such as lack of resources, overburdening, and low professional status. Ethical dilemmas, such as confidentiality, patient autonomy, and limited resources, contribute to high stress and burnout among social workers. Therefore, it is crucial to strengthen support for social workers in healthcare through supervision and mentoring, as well as the development of self-care techniques to improve mental health and professional practice. In comparison to Croatia, social workers in Slovenia also provide significant support to patients and their families through various stages of the healthcare process, including assistance in psychosocial crises and adjustment to new circumstances. Although they also face challenges such as unregulated standards and poor positioning within the healthcare system, they have shown a lower tendency for burnout compared to their Croatian counterparts. However, emotional exhaustion remains a significant problem in both countries. Both healthcare systems recognize the importance of social work but face different challenges. In Croatia, there is a clear need for greater support for social workers, including improvements in working conditions and professional status. In Slovenia, the lower tendency for burnout suggests better stress management and professional burden handling. Further research and enhancement of working conditions in both countries could improve the quality of social work and, consequently, the quality of patient care.