EHR-Based Social Needs Screening and Referral in Primary Care: Clinician and Staff Perspectives on Practices,...

Identifying social drivers of health (SDoH) can help healthcare professionals connect patients with community resources that impact health outcomes. However, screening and referral require time and effort, highlighting the potential for electronic health record (EHR) support to improve efficacy. We surveyed primary care clinicians and staff (n=122) about current SDoH screening and referral practices, as well as perceived barriers and benefits for standardizing those practices with EHR support. Although the majority currently screen and refer patients for SDoH at least occasionally, most respondents document in the EHR using unstructured formats and rate current practices as only moderately feasible and acceptable. While the majority feel competent with SDoH screening, key barriers included time constraints, lack of dedicated staff, and a desire for access to more community resources. Findings underscore the need for an EHR-based standardized screening and referral implementation with flexibility to adapt workflows in different clinic settings and clinical positions.