Six Steps to Target Social Determinants of Health and Advance Health Equity

Social determinants of health (SDoH) like socioeconomic status, race, transportation, geographic location, and educational status all factor into health outcomes but are often not addressed in care settings. In a new Medical Economics article, learn 6 ways that providers can address SDoH and promote better health for marginalized groups. The first step is by asking questions in person.

According to Therasa Bell and Peter Schoch, “The social determinants that impact health can often be very personal and uncomfortable, and patients may not always want to talk about them. But you have to try. All clinical staff should be trained to ask questions and gather information on a patient’s life in a sensitive, non-judgmental way. The way questions are phrased, and the tone of voice used when posing questions are important factors in collecting useful, unbiased SDoH information helps to paint an accurate picture of a patient’s life, so any potential inequities and challenges can be addressed.”

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(Source: Medical Economics, February 6^th, 2023)