Back to Evidence & Resource Library

Status of health equity report


The Root Cause Coalition

The evidence continues to build that health and well-being does not begin in a doctor’s office, a hospital, or other clinical setting. Health and well-being begin where we live, learn, work, and play. Unfortunately, socioeconomic factors such as hunger, job security, transportation, education, and isolation are ever-present in our society. One in 10 seniors in the United States lives below the federal poverty level, and 40 percent of American families struggled in the last 12 months to meet basic needs of food, healthcare, housing, or utilities.

Health care professionals understand the need to address the social determinants of health that create health inequity, and are willing to help do so. And increasingly, the health care sector understands the importance of collaborating and partnering with organizations from a variety of cross-sectors, including social services, educators, faith-based groups, funders, business, and government, to ensure all individuals can achieve their best self. But in an online survey of primary care physicians, nurse practitioners and physician assistants conducted by The Root Cause Coalition (and published in this report), the top three barriers to addressing socioeconomic factors included: not enough time during an office visit; limited resources; and community resources not being integrated with clinical resources to provide help effectively.

Status of Health Equity Report.The Root Cause Coalition; February 2020. Available online.

View the Resource
Publication year
Resource type
Issue Briefs & Reports