Hispanic Heritage Month: Addressing social drivers of health

Screening patients for SDOH is critical to better understanding their needs and connecting them to life-enhancing resources

As a health care professional serving Hispanic patients, you play a pivotal role in addressing health disparities and promoting equal access to quality care. Health and well-being depend greatly on cultural and social factors. While a patient’s socio-economic status, education and access to resources are critically important year-round, Hispanic Heritage Month gives us all an opportunity to review our commitment to improving these social drivers of health (SDOH) within communities.

Identify gaps while screening

You’re in a unique position to identify and address the social drivers that affect your patients' health. By screening for SDOH, you can uncover critical needs that may otherwise go unnoticed. These screenings can reveal issues such as food insecurity, housing instability and lack of access to transportation. All of these can contribute to poor health outcomes.

Create awareness through reporting

When you report SDOH findings, you contribute to a more comprehensive and effective health care system. The data allows us and other organizations to better understand the needs of diverse populations. Your discoveries can help inform policy decisions, determine resource allocations and develop targeted interventions.

Connect patients to resources

Once you’ve identified and reported your patients’ needs, connecting them to appropriate resources is essential to closing gaps in SDOH. This may involve collaborating with support networks, such as community organizations and social services. Creating awareness among these groups can initiate or advance services that will enhance the patient’s quality of care, boost health outcomes and improve their overall well-being. As we work together, we can create a healthier and more inclusive future for all.

Support your Hispanic patients

Use our resources to address SDOH needs in your community:

• Social Drivers of Health – Tools for screening and reporting, links to training and education, and connections to useful resources
• Cultural Competency – Language interpretation services, tips for enhancing your provider directory listing, free training and education, and links to resources