Happy New year! We want to take a moment to kick off our year by providing everybody with an update on social determinants of health (SDOH) and how we are helping to do our part in addressing this very important issue. For this first post in our SDOH series, we are focusing on addressing SDOH to reduce healthcare cost.
Healthcare costs are a major concern for many individuals, families, and businesses alike. While there is no single solution to reducing healthcare costs, one strategy that has been gaining traction in recent years is addressing SDOH. SDOH refer to the conditions in which people live and work that can have an impact on their health outcomes. These conditions include access to housing, education opportunities, employment prospects, transportation options and more. By understanding how these factors influence health outcomes – both positively and negatively – organizations can develop strategies for promoting better overall wellbeing while also reducing healthcare spending over time.
One way organizations are leveraging SDOH data is through population-level interventions such as community outreach programs or targeted public policy initiatives designed to address specific challenges within communities or regions with higher rates of chronic disease or other adverse health events impacting residents’ quality of life. For example: providing free preventive care services like vaccinations; increasing access points for medical care; implementing nutrition education campaigns aimed at improving dietary habits; expanding mental-health support resources within schools; creating job training programs tailored towards underserved populations…the list goes on!
These types of initiatives not only help improve overall wellness among those most affected by socioeconomic disparities but they also lead directly into reduced healthcare expenditures due to fewer visits/procedures needed down the line as well as greater preventative measures being taken up front before costly treatments become necessary later on down the road. Furthermore by focusing efforts where they will be most effective—by taking into account existing levels poverty rates income inequality etc.—organizations are able maximize their return investment when it comes improving public heath while simultaneously cutting back unnecessary expenses associated with medical treatment/services rendered unnecessarily due lack knowledge about available alternatives earlier stage intervention methods etc..
In short investing in social determinants now could result in significant cost savings later. This is why Curago continues to make investments in helping our clients screen their patients and take action to reduce and improve their social determinants of health.