Develop an “Open Table” Approach to Connect Individuals with Social Programs and Services
While the structural social determinants of health"the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age that shape health. Social determinants of health include factors like socioeconomic status, education, neighborho... More are important in understanding and treating COVID-19, it is urgent to address individuals’ social needs. Roundtable participants suggested developing apps or other tools to connect people with social services as their needs are identified. Research on public health trends and on SDOH, collected through both population studies and individual questionnaires, can help identify at-risk individuals and prioritize their needs for social services. There may be opportunities to explore public-private partnerships with companies that already work to connect individuals with social service providers and fill other needs.
Next Steps: Integrate “matching” programs for social services with clinical care at several levels, from individual practitioners to health plans and healthcare providers.
Impact: Reduce COVID-19 risk for individuals and communities by addressing social needs that increase disease risk.
Who can take action: Health plans and healthcare providers with access to information on their patients’ social needs. Private companies, such as UniteUs and Aunt Bertha, that have developed apps to connect individuals with social service. Community-based organizations.