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Stepwise Solutions-Patients Social Determinants of Health, Health Disparities, and Surgical Equity
Diane N Haddad1, John W Scott2
1Department of Surgery, Biological Sciences Division, University of Chicago, IL, USA.
The Surgical Clinics of North America
|June 1, 2026
Summary
Surgeons can address patient social needs, like financial hardship, to improve surgical outcomes and reduce health disparities. This approach makes social determinants of health actionable at the patient level.
Area of Science:
- Health Services Research
- Surgical Outcomes
- Health Disparities
Background:
- Social determinants of health (SDOH) are complex societal factors impacting patient health.
- SDOH are often viewed as beyond the scope of clinical practice, particularly in surgery.
- Health-related social needs (HRSNs) offer a patient-level framework to address SDOH.
Purpose of the Study:
- To reframe social determinants of health (SDOH) into actionable health-related social needs (HRSNs) for surgical patients.
- To highlight the role of surgeons in identifying and addressing HRSNs.
- To introduce financial hardship ('financial toxicity') as a key HRSN in surgical care.
Main Methods:
- Review of 5 key health-related social needs (HRSNs) identified by CMS.
- Inclusion of financial hardship as a critical HRSN in surgical contexts.
- Framework development for surgeons to screen for and address HRSNs.
Main Results:
- Health-related social needs (HRSNs) are discrete, patient-level issues surgeons can manage.
- Financial hardship is a significant HRSN impacting surgical patients.
- Addressing HRSNs can lead to improved postoperative results.
Conclusions:
- Surgeons can effectively address health-related social needs (HRSNs) to improve patient outcomes.
- Integrating HRSN screening and intervention into surgical practice can mitigate health disparities.
- Reframing SDOH as HRSNs empowers surgeons to impact patient well-being directly.
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