Implementing a Social Needs Screening and Referral Program for Obstetrics and Gynecology Patients

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Services Research
• Health Equity

Background:

• Health-related social needs (HRSNs) significantly impact obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN) patient outcomes.
• Community health worker (CHW) interventions show promise for addressing HRSNs, improving patient outcomes, and promoting health equity.
• Limited research evaluates CHW interventions specifically within OB/GYN settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To implement and evaluate a novel program for OB/GYN patients.
• To integrate standardized screening for health-related social needs (HRSNs).
• To facilitate referrals to community health workers (CHWs) for resource connection.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective cohort study of OB/GYN patients screened for HRSNs between June 2022 and May 2024.
• Patients reporting unmet HRSNs were eligible for referral to CHWs.
• Descriptive statistics were used to analyze RE-AIM outcomes and patient sociodemographics.

Main Results:

• 16.7% of 11,191 screened OB/GYN patients reported unmet HRSNs.
• 73.7% of patients with attempted outreach consented to work with CHWs, with 93.5% connected to social services.
• The program demonstrated high effectiveness in connecting patients to services and resolving HRSNs, with a median annual cost of $289.07 per patient.

Conclusions:

• The HRSN screening and referral program effectively connected OB/GYN patients with unmet social needs to social services.
• Addressing HRSNs can improve patient engagement in OB/GYN care.
• This model holds potential for improving clinical outcomes and advancing health equity.