Improving Health and Addressing Social Determinants of Health Through Hospital Partnerships.

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Public Health
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Hospitals and health systems are increasingly forming partnerships to address social determinants of health (SDOH).
• There is limited research on how these partnerships impact hospital and community outcomes.
• Understanding these associations is crucial for optimizing healthcare delivery and community well-being.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the association between hospital social need partnerships and their impact on hospital and community outcomes.
• To identify which types of partnerships are most effective in improving health outcomes, reducing costs, and managing service utilization.
• To provide evidence-based insights for healthcare organizations developing community-focused initiatives.

Main Methods:

• Secondary cross-sectional analysis of 2021 data from nonfederal short-term acute care hospitals in the U.S.
• Utilized data from the American Hospital Association.
• Employed four multilevel logistic regression models to analyze data from 1005 hospitals.

Main Results:

• Partnership type significantly influenced social need outcomes.
• Hospitals partnering with health insurance providers showed better health outcomes.
• Collaborations with health insurers, housing organizations, businesses, or chambers of commerce were linked to decreased healthcare costs.
• Partnerships with healthcare providers, insurers, legal aid, or law enforcement correlated with decreased hospital service utilization.
• Conversely, partnerships with government or social service organizations were less associated with decreased service utilization.

Conclusions:

• Hospital partnerships with various entities yield diverse effects on health outcomes, costs, and service utilization.
• Strategic partnerships, particularly with health insurance providers, appear beneficial for improving health outcomes and reducing costs.
• Healthcare organizations should carefully consider partnership types to effectively address SDOH and achieve desired community health improvements.