Elevating Social Determinants of Health within Healthcare Settings
As healthcare providers, we see the profound impact that the conditions in which patients live, work, and play have on patient health. These non-medical factors, also called social determinants of health, must be addressed in order to improve health outcomes and quality of life. In 2018, during a speech at the Hatch Center, former Secretary of the US Dept of Health and Human Services, Alex Azar, highlighted the impact of SDOH on one’s health and wellbeing:
“Social determinants of health is an abstract term, but for millions of Americans, it is a very tangible, frightening challenge: How can someone manage diabetes if they are constantly worrying about how they’re going to afford their meals each week? How can a mother with an asthmatic son really improve his health if it’s their living environment that’s driving his condition? This can feel like a frustrating, almost fruitless position for a healthcare provider, who understands what is driving the health conditions they’re trying to treat, who wants to help, but can’t simply write a prescription for healthy meals, a new home, or clean air.”
This important work continues to be elevated in our communities. Recently The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) promoted the importance of addressing SDOH by creating and implementing state-level programming, benefits, and services that will facilitate improvements in population health, reduction in disability, and lower healthcare costs.
Interdisciplinary teams are critical in order to address SDOH. These teams are strengthened by the expertise of social work, community health work, and patient care navigators. We invite you to watch the team at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago — David Ansell, MD, MPH; Natalie Burdett, MSW, LCSW; and Adrienne Blackmon, Patient Care Navigator — discuss what it means to go beyond the clinic walls to address these systematic issues as a team. We thank our partners over at the American Medical Association (AMA) for making this video happen!
We welcome conversations around this critical topic and encourage you all to reflect using the 5As framework within the National Academies report on Integrating Social Needs Care into the Delivery of Health Care. We also encourage everyone to think about what you and your colleagues can do within your institution to take that next step in addressing SDOH of your patients. How far can your dial move to elevate social care within your health care space?