Reports and Resources Social Determinants of Health

Health disparities in the United States are often related to factors that exist outside the four walls of the doctor’s office. The 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 (SDOH), defined as the “conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age that shape health”, represent a growing area of focus in the healthcare industry, and a tool for addressing healthcare inequities. Doctors and researchers have noted that a person’s ZIP Code is at least as important as their genetic code in predicting health risks. This section discusses how patients, policymakers, and healthcare institutions alike can better leverage data on the social determinants of health to improve healthcare delivery.