It is common for patients to leave the hospital and not get prescriptions or health-related services post-discharge. These factors, some of which are external to the healthcare system, still affect a person’s health. Therefore, hospitals have begun addressing social determinants of health, also known as health-related social needs. Examples of social determinants of health include employment, transportation, and access to medicine and food. Social determinants of health make up 80% of the care that patients need for optimal health. Everyone has social determinants that affect their health, and for those who lack the resources to meet their needs, there are community organizations and programs to address these needs.
The theme of the 2023 Texas Collaborative for Health Mothers and Babies Summit is Social Determinants of Health and How They Impact Maternal and Neonatal Outcomes. Our aim is to provide examples from other Perinatal Quality Collaboratives, hospitals and partner organizations and programs to show that addressing social determinants of health can improve birth outcomes for mothers and babies, beyond the first year of birth. Hospitals are learning it is not enough to document needs or even supply a list of services. Some patients need navigators and advocates who can walk alongside them for a period. Therefore, some of the Summit sessions will include how and when to measure social needs; how to find partners to address social needs; how to refer patients in a meaningful way; and how to ensure or document how patients’ needs have been met, also known as closing the loop.
To learn more about social determinants of health, what your organization can do, and tools, visit the following websites:
https://www.aha.org/social-determinants-health/populationcommunity-health/community-partnerships - See article – Emerging Strategies to Ensure Access to Health Care Services – Social Determinants of Health