Mind the gaps: The missing links in social needs screening

Unmet social needs drive health care use and poor health outcomes. Is the assumption that addressing these needs will improve health fact or fantasy? In this issue, Chang and colleagues’ systematic review (1) seeks to identify elements of successful screening programs for social needs. In doing so, they also reveal persistent gaps in implementation, including variable screening rates and inconsistent follow-through after positive screening results. A few elements addressed in the 23 screening studies reviewed deserve consideration: the size of the population being screened, variability in health system resourcing to support interventions, and scant evidence of improved health outcomes.