Impact of an Inpatient Social Needs Screening Program: Did Our Referral Resolve Your Need?

To evaluate the effectiveness of social resource referrals after social needs screening among caregivers of pediatric inpatients by assessing (1) the rates of resource connection, (2) caregiver perception of resource helpfulness, (3) barriers to connection, and (4) resolution of needs.

We conducted a cross-sectional survey of families discharged from our pediatric inpatient floor between October 2021 and June 2022 who had screened positive for unmet social needs and received a referral to at least 1 community resource during their hospitalization. We surveyed caregivers by telephone 1 month to 1 year post-intervention, inquiring about their perception of and experience with referrals. We compared responses across groups using χ2 tests. Multivariable logistic regression was used to predict the likelihood of resource connection based on race, ethnicity, language, and insurance type.

Of 361 families that screened positive for social needs and received a referral, 219 (61%) completed surveys. A total of 50.2% (110/219) of caregivers connected to at least 1 community resource, and 30.6% (67/219) connected to all referrals. Of 515 referrals, 315 (61.2%) did not result in resource connection. The most frequent barrier was families not recalling receiving the referral (44.8%, 141/315). Of 200 referrals that resulted in resource connection, 152 (76%) were helpful and 120 (60%) resolved the need. Non-Hispanic or Latino ethnicity predicted connection to resources.

Screening hospitalized children for social needs can result in meaningful resource connections. In our population, language, race, and insurance did not impact connection to resources. However, two-thirds of referrals did not result in resource connection.