Taking action with Social Determinants of Health in 2020

TAKING ACTION: NOW WHAT?

Happy New Year! Let this be the year when we start to document the barriers impacting Buffalonians in their quest to attain better health!

Social Determinants of Health, or SDOH are there the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age. These circumstances are shaped by the distribution of money, power and resources at global, national and local levels. (WHO / CDC).

Did you know 68 percent of patients have at least one social determinant of health challenge, yet we spend more money on in-office treatment than on any other aspect of our health care?

Read on to learn more about what ACTION you can take now!

Right Now: 

Share the linked web map app with others on Social Media using hashtag #BuffaloSDOH  Web App URL and the original story map.

This Week: 

Patients: Explore SDOH resources available to you by calling 211 or visiting www.211wny.org . Engage with your care team providers and let them know what barriers you face.

Providers: Consider adopting SDOH data capture tools like:

• AHC_HRSN
• PRAPARE Toolkit & PRAPARE tool
• HealthLeads
• We Care
• Montefiore Social Needs Assessment
• Siren SDH Tool Overview

Policy Makers: Ask healthcare providers in your district what plans they have to address SDOH identified in this map for your constituents, and ask how you may be of assistance.

This Month:

Patients: Consider getting involved in Community Wellness Resource groups like Population Health Collaborative’s Live Well WNY Initiative by joining their mailing list or going to a Western New York Health Communities Coalition event!

Providers: Identify which Z-codes you may wish to capture.  ICD-10 Z codes are diagnosis codes that correspond to socio-economic conditions such as homelessness. See PRAPARE Toolkit for more details surrounding which Z-Codes relate to SDOH questions. Familiarize yourself with other efforts by New York State to improve SDOH. Join the Population Health Collaborative’s WNYHCC resource group to share ideas and resources.

Policy Makers: Support the AMA in their efforts to have the Centers for Medicaid & Medicaid Services (CMS) create 23 new Z-Codes in 2020. If possible, push to make their capture reimbursable.

This Year:

Patients: Become your own best advocate, and speak up to your healthcare provider, or contact 211 about the barriers you face or the services you need. Alert friends and families about resources like 211 to get linked to the services you need.

Providers: Ensure your organization has the people, process, and technology in place to support this data capture and analysis. Reach out to local colleges and universities to find GIS or health analytics interns and graduates who may be of assistance.

Policy Makers: Continue support for New York State’s Medicaid Redesign efforts in advancing work with Social Determinants of Health. Continue to work with local healthcare providers and community based organizations. Support the local Live Well WNY initiatives by Population Health Collaborative.

This map was made via a collaboration between Buffalo State College’s Dr. Wende Mix, and the Data Science & Analytics Advisory Board Member Kimberly Herrington. It was made in efforts to educate and illuminate the importance of Social Determinants Health Data Capture and Collection in Western New York.