Collaborative Transitions: The Role of Social Determinant of Health Screenings in Medical Settings

The impact of Social Determinant of Health Screening (SDOH) on quality of life and health outcomes is well-established in the healthcare communities (Aceves et al., 2023; Kausar et al., 2022). However, the methods for assessing and intervening are still being established (Aceves et al., 2023). The recent regulatory requirements, such as those from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), have mandated health systems to screen for SDOH during patient admission to acute care settings. Yet, the differences in screening for these determinants are a significant barrier to standardizing effective interventions. Additionally, this presentation will highlight the urgent need for standardization in SDOH screening, identify key factors impacting SDOH screening across different care environments, review strategies for standardization within health systems and primary referral sources, identify actionable steps at the individual practice level, and discuss future research aimed at creating a standardized approach to addressing non-medical social needs across medical and community settings. With a standardized approach to SDOH screening across hospital and community settings, healthcare professionals can reduce gaps in care that result in disproportionate health outcomes for individuals of marginalized individuals.

Shamika Morales, LCSW, LCAC, C-ASWCM is a second-year PhD student in the School of Social Work. She has 15+ years of experience in health care, including acute, ambulatory, community mental health and private practice.