Introduction
In today's ever-evolving healthcare landscape, understanding and addressing Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) is crucial for practitioners aiming to improve patient outcomes. A recent scoping review titled Characteristics of hospital and health system initiatives to address social determinants of health in the United States provides valuable insights into how hospitals and health systems are tackling these challenges. This blog aims to help practitioners enhance their skills by implementing the outcomes of this research or encouraging further exploration.
Key Findings from the Research
The scoping review analyzed 70 peer-reviewed articles, revealing that most hospital initiatives focus on addressing downstream health-related social needs (HRSNs) through hot-spotting or screening-and-referral. Interestingly, only a small percentage of initiatives target upstream efforts to address community-level structural SDOH, such as housing investments.
Here are some of the key findings:
- Most initiatives (73%) addressed multiple types of SDOH, such as food and housing.
- Academic health centers undertook more initiatives (34%) compared to safety-net facilities (16%).
- Only 34% of initiatives used Electronic Health Records (EHR) to collect SDOH data.
- Challenges included implementation issues and limited evidence on systemic impact and cost savings.
Practical Applications for Practitioners
Practitioners can leverage these findings to improve their practice in several ways:
- Integrate SDOH Data: Consider using EHR systems to collect and analyze SDOH data, which can help tailor interventions to meet the specific needs of patients.
- Focus on Multiple SDOH: Addressing multiple social needs concurrently can lead to more holistic and effective care strategies.
- Build Community Partnerships: Collaborate with local organizations to create a network of resources that can address upstream SDOH and promote community health.
- Advocate for Policy Change: Engage in policy advocacy to push for systemic changes that address structural SDOH at the community level.
Encouraging Further Research
While the scoping review provides a comprehensive overview of current initiatives, it also highlights the need for further research in several areas:
- Explore the systemic impact and cost-effectiveness of SDOH interventions.
- Investigate the potential for replicability of successful initiatives in different settings.
- Examine the role of community partnerships in enhancing the effectiveness of SDOH initiatives.
Conclusion
The research underscores the importance of addressing SDOH in healthcare settings. By integrating SDOH data into practice, focusing on multiple social needs, building community partnerships, and advocating for policy changes, practitioners can significantly enhance their impact on patient outcomes. For those interested in delving deeper into the research, the original paper offers a wealth of information and insights.
To read the original research paper, please follow this link: Characteristics of hospital and health system initiatives to address social determinants of health in the United States: a scoping review of the peer-reviewed literature.
