Guiding principles for ethical use of social determinants of health data

eHealth Initiative’s (eHI) Guiding Principles for Ethical Use of Social Determinants of Health Data offers guidance on the evolving matter of Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) and its related data use for healthcare purposes. Using SDOH is unchartered territory in both policy and practice. eHI puts forth an ethical framework for SDOH data, specifically five guiding principles in the areas of: care coordination; recognizing risk through SDOH analytics; mapping community resources and identifying gaps; service and impact assessment; and customizing health services and interventions.

The Guiding Principles for Ethical Use of Social Determinants of Health Data were developed as part of a SDOH collaborative. eHI is an independent, non-profit organization that convenes executives from various healthcare stakeholder groups to discuss, identify, and share best practices, which transform the delivery of healthcare. The work of the SDOH collaborative focused on educating and guiding industry stakeholders and policy makers on the value of leveraging SDOH data for maximum good in healthcare, while addressing SDOH privacy and security concerns.