Steps leaders can take now to determine how they can contribute to the effort to address the non-clinical factors impacting the health of their patients and community

Health care systems increasingly understand the impact of social determinants on health outcomes. Some are starting to address them through strategies to promote health equity. However, individual service lines within the health system often struggle to contribute to the effort to address the non-clinical factors impacting the health of their patients and community.

The roles service line leaders play in this fight may vary depending on the needs of the patient populations and communities they serve. But no matter what role that is, service line leaders will be essential to crafting and implementing initiatives that account for social determinants of health. Read on to understand the steps leaders can take now to determine how they can contribute.