Making A Difference: Launching a Multimodal, Resident-Run Social Emergency Medicine Program.

Area of Science:

• Social Medicine
• Public Health
• Medical Education

Background:

• Social medicine integrates patient social contexts into healthcare.
• Emergency physicians are vital in addressing social determinants of health (SDoH) at the frontlines.
• Miami-Dade County presents unique social vulnerabilities, necessitating targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To launch and evaluate a multimodal, resident-led Social EM program within an emergency department (ED).
• To identify and address SDoH among patients in a diverse, high-need urban setting.
• To enhance emergency medicine residents' capacity to manage SDoH.

Main Methods:

• A four-pillar approach: Curriculum Integration, Community Outreach, Access to Care, and Social Justice.
• Implementation of an 18-month Social EM curriculum, electives, and longitudinal tracks.
• Development of sustainable initiatives via partnerships, including Narcan distribution and patient navigation programs.

Main Results:

• Initial data indicate improved resident knowledge and confidence in managing SDoH.
• The Narcan initiative screened 1,188 patients, distributing Narcan to 144.
• The patient navigation program enrolled 31 patients, with 18 accessing outpatient care.

Conclusions:

• This program represents a robust model for Social EM, extending beyond service to solution generation.
• It addresses SDoH comprehensively within and beyond the emergency department setting.
• The program aims to equip residents with advanced skills in social emergency medicine principles.