Social needs screening in health care system
If you want to enroll into health care program like Medicare, you’ll probably be asked to complete social needs screen.
Social needs composed of 5 elements includes food insecurity, housing instability, utilities, transportation needs, and interpersonal safety.
Screening the social needs could cover the gap between the clinical care and community settings in the health care system and have good impact on health outcomes.
Recently, researchers from The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice conducted a cross-sectional survey by collecting the data to assess the prevalence of social needs screen. The response of 2190 physicians and 739 hospitals were analyzed in the study.
Only 24% of hospitals and 16% of physicians screened all 5 social needs. Up to 33% of physicians and 8% of hospitals report no screening at all. Screening for interpersonal safety showed the highest prevalence, reported about 75% of hospital and 56% of physicians did so. In addition, close to 36% of hospitals and 23% of practitioners screened for utility needs.
The reasons hospitals did not screen for social needs depends on the needs, motivation and capabilities. The financial condition of the hospital seemed to be the most important factor influencing the determination of social needs screening.
Authors suggested that the social needs screening is important first step to improve health outcomes.
For more information please visit JAMA.
Questions: How often have you been asked to complete social needs questionnaire before? Have you ever wondered why this information is important?
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