Social Determinants of Health
Our mission to build strong, healthy communities goes beyond clinical care. Up to 80 to 90 percent of a person's health is tied to factors other than clinical care.1 These factors, known as the social determinants of health, include nutritious food, access to care, safe housing, reliable transportation, and community supports.
These underlying drivers of health impact every part of our physical, mental, and social well-being. When they work against someone or are left unaddressed, they create health inequalities — which lead to worse outcomes and more expensive care.
That’s why our person-centered model of care goes beyond the doctor’s office. We help provide our Participants with access to the critical support and services they need, so they can make important lifestyle changes and lead healthier, more productive lives.
Our areas of focus
We focus our efforts on:
- Education, including early childhood development, high school graduation or GED completion, higher education, and enhancement of language and literacy skills.
- Health and health care, improving health literacy with self-management goals and supports and access to integrated primary care.
- Neighborhood and recreational environment, including access to healthy food, quality housing, low crime and violence, and safe environmental conditions.
- Social and community context, including civic participation and minimizing the stigma of discrimination due to incarceration and/or substance use histories.
- Economic stability, including steady employment, food security, stable housing, and a lack of poverty.
Our work with social determinants
No managed care company can expect to influence every single social determinant. Many are larger societal factors that are out of our control. But by focusing on person-centered Participant outreach and connecting Participants to resources to promote their knowledge and skills for a healthier lifestyle, we can still make a lasting difference in their lives.
Our approach of universal screening for social determinants of health allows us to quickly identify a Participant’s status as either crisis, vulnerable, or stable. We can then take appropriate action, such as:
- Referring to a case manager.
- Connecting with a local food bank.
- Using social platforms to help find shelter.
1S. Magnan, "Social Determinants of Health 101 for Health Care: Five Plus Five," NAM Perspectives, Discussion Paper, National Academy of Medicine, Washington, DC, 2017.
To help people get care, stay well, and to build healthy communities. We have special concern for those who are poor.
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