How Can I Help my Patients by Collecting SDOH?

As a provider, you play an important role in focusing on SDOH on the individual level by:

• Screening for SDOH and finding which SDOH can affect your patient’s treatment
• Documenting SDOH for coding into your patient’s medical record
• Making appropriate referrals to other health care providers or community resources that can help the patient
• Talking with your patients about how SDOH may affect their health and finding ways to support their health goals in light of the SDOH information

Your actions contribute to system-wide efforts to focus on patients’ SDOH and improve treatment outcomes.

You can connect patients with resources to reduce social risk factors and improve long-term health outcomes.