Integrating Social Care into Healthcare: A Review on Applying the Social Determinants of Health in Clinical Settings

M. Lelinneth B. Novilla (), Michael C. Goates, Tyler Leffler, Nathan Kenneth B. Novilla, Chung-Yuan Wu, Alexa Dall and Cole Hansen
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M. Lelinneth B. Novilla: Department of Public Health, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA
Michael C. Goates: Harold B. Lee Library, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA
Tyler Leffler: Department of Public Health, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA
Nathan Kenneth B. Novilla: Department of Public Health, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA
Chung-Yuan Wu: Department of Public Health, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA
Alexa Dall: Department of Public Health, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA
Cole Hansen: Department of Public Health, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 19, 1-27

Abstract: Despite the substantial health and economic burdens posed by the social determinants of health (SDH), these have yet to be efficiently, sufficiently, and sustainably addressed in clinical settings—medical offices, hospitals, and healthcare systems. Our study contextualized SDH application strategies in U.S. clinical settings by exploring the reasons for integration and identifying target patients/conditions, barriers, and recommendations for clinical translation. The foremost reason for integrating SDH in clinical settings was to identify unmet social needs and link patients to community resources, particularly for vulnerable and complex care populations. This was mainly carried out through SDH screening during patient intake to collect individual-level SDH data within the context of chronic medical, mental health, or behavioral conditions. Challenges and opportunities for integration occurred at the educational, practice, and administrative/institutional levels. Gaps remain in incorporating SDH in patient workflows and EHRs for making clinical decisions and predicting health outcomes. Current strategies are largely directed at moderating individual-level social needs versus addressing community-level root causes of health inequities. Obtaining policy, funding, administrative and staff support for integration, applying a systems approach through interprofessional/intersectoral partnerships, and delivering SDH-centered medical school curricula and training are vital in helping individuals and communities achieve their best possible health.

Keywords: social determinants of health; SDH; SDOH; clinical setting; clinical integration; clinical application (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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