Social Needs Screening in Academic Health Systems: A Landscape Assessment

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Services Research
• Social Determinants of Health

Background:

• Screening for social needs is increasingly adopted to address social determinants of health.
• Challenges persist in standardization, resource allocation, and follow-up care for social needs screening.
• Academic Health Systems (AHS) are central to integrating these screenings into healthcare.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the integration of social needs screening into healthcare services within AHS.
• To identify key themes, challenges, and opportunities in implementing social needs screening in AHS.
• To understand the current landscape of social needs screening practices in academic healthcare settings.

Main Methods:

• A year-long study conducted by the Association of American Medical Colleges.
• Integration of data from conferences, surveys, and key informant interviews.
• Analysis of eight key themes related to social needs screening in AHS.

Main Results:

• AHS actively engage in targeted social needs screening.
• Persistent obstacles include resource allocation, reimbursement code utilization, and regulatory compliance.
• AHS face staffing issues and require seamless integration across departments.
• Opportunities identified in standardized training, partnerships, and health information exchange engagement.

Conclusions:

• AHS demonstrate commitment to social needs screening but face significant resource and integration challenges.
• Leveraging technology, community partnerships, and standardized approaches can enhance screening effectiveness.
• Aligning clinical care, research, and community engagement is crucial for AHS to effectively address social needs.