Health care professionals take individual and organizational responsibility for addressing social needs

Addressing the impact of social determinants of health and health-related social needs — SDOH and HRSN — on patient populations is growing in importance for both health care providers and their organizations. However, while the question of the health care industry’s level of responsibility is becoming clearer, there continue to be many challenges in establishing effective programs and reimbursement models.

In a December 2022 survey of NEJM Catalyst Insights Council members — who are clinicians, clinical leaders, and executives at organizations around the world that are directly involved in care delivery — fully 95% of respondents globally say it is either important, very important, or extremely important to them personally that their organization works to address patients’ SDOH. Respondents say their organizations take high levels of responsibility for a broad range of social needs, including personal safety, health insurance status, social support, food insecurity, and transportation needs.

A survey of the NEJM Catalyst Insights Council finds strong interest in addressing social determinants of health and health-related social needs, but establishing programs and funding remains difficult.