From exchange to action: how hospitals receive and use health-related social needs data from external sources

To understand how hospitals receive and use data on patients' health-related social needs (HRSN) from external sources, and how methods of receipt relate to use.

Using 2024 nationally representative survey data on hospitals (N = 2146) we described external sources of receiving HRSN data and variation by hospital characteristics, and how methods of receipt relate to uses of data to support patient care.

In 2024, 70% of hospitals received HRSN data from external sources-via health information exchanges (HIEs) (51%), electronic health record (EHR) vendor networks (40%), national networks (36%), referral platforms (28%), other healthcare organizations (24%) and community-based organizations (20%). Large, urban, system-affiliated, non-profit and government-owned hospitals, value-based care participants, and those with an Epic EHR had higher rates of receiving HRSN data from any source compared to their counterparts. About half of hospitals reported using data received for various purposes (e.g., referrals, discharge planning). Hospitals that received data via HIEs or EHR vendor networks or directly from other organizations were more likely to use data across measured uses. Hospitals that received data via referral platform were more likely to use data for referrals, informing community needs, and population health analytics.

Many hospitals receive HRSN data from external sources, often through existing connections to health information networks, which was associated with greater internal and downstream use.

Efforts to improve bi-directional exchange between health and social service organizations may enable hospitals to more effectively identify and address patients' HRSN.