Adapting an in-clinic resource navigator program to a virtual referral model

Awareness and understanding of social determinants of health, such as socioeconomic status and social support, are fundamental in successful management of chronic diseases. Since 2016, our clinic has worked with the Community Resource Navigator Program (CRNP), an innovative model that uses student navigators to connect patients with community resources. With the sudden shift toward telehealth in spring 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we used a plan-do-study-act cycle to adapt our CRNP social prescribing to a more flexible virtual referral process. By developing a multifaceted social screening and referral process for both in-person and telehealth visits we have continued connecting our patients with much needed social supports and services.