About a quarter of U.S. hospitals screen patients for the five main social needs linked to health outcomes, according to a study published in JAMA Network Open.
For the study, researchers analyzed survey responses from a nationally representative group of 2,333 physician practices and 757 hospitals using the 2017-18 National Survey of Healthcare Organizations and Systems.
They sought to assess how many organizations self-reported screening patients for the following social needs:
- Food insecurity
- Housing instability
- Utility needs
- Transportation needs
- Experience with interpersonal violence
Researchers found 24.4 percent of hospitals reported screening for all five social needs, compared to 15.6 percent of physician practices. Practices that served a larger population of disadvantaged patients were more likely to screen for health needs.
To view the full study, click here.
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