Some healthcare technology vendors are working to make data surrounding social determinants of health accessible in the Electronic Health Record.
FREMONT, CA: Social determinants of health are the conditions in which a person is born into, grow in, live in, work in, and age in that shape their health throughout the lifetime. This can be a hindrance to access quality medical care. The fundamental social determinants of health are education, neighborhood, socioeconomic status, social support networks, healthcare access, and employment.
Here are four ways to tackle the social determinants of health:
Telehealth
Telehealth encourages individuals to meet with their providers regularly via video call to deal with the various aspects of their health. This convenient alternative visit allows patients to stay more engaged and involved in their medical care, enhancing outcomes, and the level of services they use.
Health Practice Technology
Many providers realize that the social determinants of health significantly impact the results of their patients. Some healthcare technology vendors are working to make data encompassing the social determinants of health accessible in the Electronic Health Record. Although there is an inadequate policy in collecting and using the social determinant data, vendors are prepared to advance so that providers can better perceive their community and the challenges they face in their medical care.
Price Transparency
Price transparency enables patients to prepare for the cost of treatment and pay the bills. Enhanced transparency into the cost of services allows providers to level the quality and cost of their services in comparison with other providers.
Chronic Care Management
Suitable patients can access care coordination services through physicians providing chronic care management services at their practice. This allows patients to monitor all the critical details that acted as a negative social determinant in the past and foster a better quality of like and patient experience.
