Social Determinants of Health
Health experts increasingly recognize that what happens in a hospital or doctor’s office only accounts for about 10% of health outcomes. Instead, patients are heavily affected by “social determinants of health”: the conditions in which people live, work, learn, and play. Ensuring healthy conditions not only leads to better health outcomes, but also saves money by preventing costly healthcare interventions downstream. That’s why CDCs and health systems share a common goal of improving the communities they serve. CDCs compliment the work of medical providers by offering affordable housing, leading community economic development efforts, turning vacant properties into community assets, maintaining green space, putting healthy foods in reach, or providing social services. CDCs address what individuals, families, and entire neighborhoods need to be healthy when they are outside of the doctor’s office.
This nexus between health and community development offers opportunities for partnerships between health care institutions – health systems, hospitals, insurance companies, managed care organizations, and primary care providers – and CDCs to improve communities and the health outcomes of residents. PACDC works to raise awareness of our members’ work through a health lens, highlighting opportunities for collaboration, and forging relationships between these sectors.
Social Determinants of Health
Health experts increasingly recognize that what happens in a hospital or doctor’s office only accounts for about 10% of health outcomes. Instead, patients are heavily affected by “social determinants of health”: the conditions in which people live, work, learn, and play. Ensuring healthy conditions not only leads to better health outcomes, but also saves money by preventing costly healthcare interventions downstream. That’s why CDCs and health systems share a common goal of improving the communities they serve. CDCs compliment the work of medical providers by offering affordable housing, leading community economic development efforts, turning vacant properties into community assets, maintaining green space, putting healthy foods in reach, or providing social services. CDCs address what individuals, families, and entire neighborhoods need to be healthy when they are outside of the doctor’s office.
This nexus between health and community development offers opportunities for partnerships between health care institutions – health systems, hospitals, insurance companies, managed care organizations, and primary care providers – and CDCs to improve communities and the health outcomes of residents. PACDC works to raise awareness of our members’ work through a health lens, highlighting opportunities for collaboration, and forging relationships between these sectors.