Orthopaedic Centers May Require Additional Support to Meet the 2024 TJC and CMS SDOH Requirements

Since orthopaedic nurses often guide patients through pre- and postoperative periods, they play an integral role in fulfilling the new screening requirements released by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the Joint Commission. This study aims to highlight measures taken by orthopaedic healthcare organizations to fulfill the 2024 Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) screening requirements. Survey questions were developed and distributed in collaboration with the National Association for Orthopaedic Nurses to assess organizational responses to the requirements. On average, participants rated their institutions' preparedness to screen for SDOH as 3.21, with 30% of respondents ranking their preparedness as a 1 or 2 (5 being "very prepared" and 1 being "not prepared at all"). Organizations should consider developing a written action plan to screen for and address SDOH. They should also consider integrating workflows into the electronic medical record to facilitate easier screening and increase communication between hospital administration and nursing staff surrounding these new requirements.