‘We can’t afford not to do it’: One health system’s early journey into addressing social determinants of health
Abstract
A few hospitals and health systems have long histories in addressing the social and environmental conditions that affect the health of those living in their communities. The growing awareness of the effect that social needs have on patient outcomes is motivating many more hospitals and health systems to address these issues, but the majority are doing so without access to sustained external funding to support these new efforts. This paper provides an insider’s view into the processes, decisions and realities that influenced one such health system’s early efforts to address social determinants of health. Lessons learned that may be helpful to other hospitals and health systems and their collaborators are highlighted and include the following: recognise the costs of not addressing the social needs of patients; understand that addressing social determinants of health can happen in myriad ways; recognise that it will take some time for science to catch up to the fast pace of innovation in this area; be realistic about the organisation’s capacity; and consider both community need and factors affecting the organisation’s bottom line before choosing a strategy.
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Author's Biography
Dennis P. Scanlon PhD, is Distinguished Professor of Health Policy and Administration and Director of the Center for Health Care and Policy Research at the College of Health and Human Development, The Pennsylvania State University. His research focuses on understanding the role of measurement, incentives, quality improvement and individual and organisational behaviour change for improving important healthcare outcomes, including clinical quality, patient experience and economic efficiency. He has published over 100 articles, book chapters and reports. He is a frequent speaker to academic, policy and practice audiences. He holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Villanova University, a master’s degree in economics from the University of Pittsburgh and a doctorate in health services organisation and policy from the University of Michigan.
Laura J. Wolf MSW, is a community-level social worker and qualitative research specialist. Her work within the Center for Health Care and Policy Research focuses on projects that utilise qualitative methods, community engagement or a combination of the two approaches. Her current work includes qualitative data collection and analysis for several projects on subjects ranging from nutrition and metastatic breast cancer to exercise and cancer to the governance of regional health improvement collaboratives and a multi-year study on high-performing health systems.
Bethany W. Shaw MHA, is a research analyst at the Center for Health Care and Policy Research, The Pennsylvania State University. She provides analytical and project management support to multiple projects, including those focused on health systems and the social determinants of health. She is a member of the centre’s qualitative data and dissemination teams. She has participated in the evaluation of a national healthcare quality improvement initiative, specialising in healthcare transparency and payment reform. Additional areas of study include information technology and employee health and wellness.
Jocelyn M. Vanderbrink MHA, has upper-level management experience in both acute and rehabilitation hospitals, where she was responsible for marketing, strategic planning, new business development and patient case management. She has experience in healthcare consulting, specifically in assisting clients in projecting future service line utilisation and facilities planning. She now serves as a research associate at the Center for Health Care and Policy Research, where she focuses on qualitative data collection and analysis. Her research interests include programme evaluation and identification of attributes associated with high-performing health systems. She is the author of two health policy and administration courses offered online through Penn State’s World Campus.
Diane C. Farley BA, is a research analyst at the Center for Health Care and Policy Research. She serves as the Center’s chief editor and is a member of the qualitative data and dissemination teams. She has expertise in site visit, phone interview, and meeting coordination and plays a critical role in building and maintaining long-term relationships with stakeholders across the country and globally. She has participated in the evaluation of a national healthcare quality improvement initiative, specialising in the study of consumer and patient engagement interventions. Her other areas of study include health system performance and the linkages between American business, corporate giving and community health.
Citation
Scanlon, Dennis P., Wolf, Laura J., Shaw, Bethany W., Vanderbrink, Jocelyn M. and Farley, Diane C. (2019, March 1). ‘We can’t afford not to do it’: One health system’s early journey into addressing social determinants of health. In the Management in Healthcare: A Peer-Reviewed Journal, Volume 3, Issue 4. https://doi.org/10.69554/CIJG6593.
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