In the most recent release of Pro-Change’s Health Risk Intervention (HRI), clients and partners now have the ability to enable a screener for key health-related social needs that play a significant role in determining health outcomes.
Increasingly, organizations such as the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) are advocating for addressing Social Determinants of Health (SDOH). In fact, RWJF reports that as much as 40% of health outcomes are attributable to unmet social and economic needs. Unfortunately, however, these factors are often largely unaddressed in worksite health promotion programs or clinical settings.
The optional screener in Pro-Change’s Health Risk Intervention includes ten items that assess core unmet social needs, such as housing, food, transportation, and personal safety. The questions were explicitly selected because they are validated assessments of social needs* that can be addressed at least in part by community services. Any affirmative response triggers feedback that refers the respondent to vetted local community resources, as well as suggesting they speak with a healthcare provider, social worker, or community health worker.
“We have a long-track record of successfully promoting population health,” said Dr. Sara Johnson, Co-President and CEO of Pro-Change. The addition of this optional screener for Social Determinants of Health and the ability to provide referrals to local community resources is another crucial piece of the comprehensive solution for health systems and employers. We stand firm in our commitment to advance health equity.”
*With thanks to the AAFP EveryONE Project