Social Determinants of Health
Research suggests that what happens in the doctor's office is responsible for about 20 percent of a person's health outcomes. The rest is driven by personal behavior and the conditions and circumstances in which people live, as these affect a wide range of health risks and outcomes. These conditions are known as social determinants of health (SDOH) and include elements such as access to food, access to health services, education and employment, environmental conditions, income, housing, and relationships, among others. So, to effectively bend our spending on medical care, we need to address an individual or a family's needs holistically. Over the coming years, we will leverage our authority and ability to convene partners to improve Pennsylvanians' access to affordable housing, food, and transportation. Because once we have assessed a person's needs, we must have partners to which we can refer that person to help get those needs met.