Hello colleagues,
This month, I want to share our perspective on social determinants of health (SDOH). SDOH is a term that covers so many areas. SDOH are the non-medical factors that influence health outcomes. They are the conditions of the environments where people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age. They include:
- Economic stability.
- Education access and quality.
- Neighborhood and environment.
- Health care access and quality.
- Community and social supports.*
*Social Determinants of Health - Healthy People 2030 | health.gov
Addressing SDOH at a population health level is complex and challenging. (Think of things like federal, state, and local politics; regulations; budgets; etc.) But we have tools to help you and your patients.
SDOH account for 30% to 55% of our health outcomes (World Health Organization [WHO], 2022). That means keeping patients healthy goes beyond identifying and treating illness and making recommendations for preventive care such as diet and exercise. As important as those things are, we also want to support you in understanding and addressing the bigger picture. For example, a recommendation to eat better cannot be followed by someone who cannot get healthy food.
SDOH is so important in the regulatory aspects of health plans, NCQA has added a new HEDIS measure for screening and providing interventions for transportation, food, and housing. To highlight the importance of SDOH, we have added it to our own Quality program.
There is so much to say on this topic. Next month, we will begin to look at our three-pronged approach to SDOH: identify the barrier, listen to members and collect information, and identify reliable solutions.
Until then, here are resources that can help you:
- Quality Measures Resource Guide
- EmblemHealth Neighborhood Care
- ConnectiCare Centers
- EmblemHealth Care/Case Management Programs
- ConnectiCare Care/Case Management Programs
Lama
Lama El Zein MD, MHA
Sr. Medical Director/Population Health
If there are other health topics you would like our perspectives on, please write to us at:
emblemhealthmedicaldirectors@emblemhealth.com.
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