Module 4: Social Determinants of Health The power of the “social determinants of

Module 4: Social Determinants of Health
The power of the “social determinants of health”
Learning Objectives:
Summarize and identify how the “social determinants of health” affect traditional health care in the US. Be able to explain how these “social determinants” and other “social risk factors” play such a prominent role, and propose solutions for how a focus on “social determinants” could improve our health system to make it work better for more people in the future.
Learning objective 1: Define “social determinants of health” and explain how these “social determinants” impact health care in the U.S.
Learning objective 2: Compare an “upstream” approach to health care with traditional approaches in health care where response to disease is the primary focus.
Learning objective 3: Contrast the U.S. system of care with health care systems in other advanced western democracies and with the systems of health care in countries with limited economic development.
Read:
Article 1: Beyond health care: The role of social determinants in promoting health and health equity. By Samantha Artiga and Elizabeth Hinton. May 20, 2018. Kaiser Family Foundation. https://www.kff.org/disparities-policy/issue-brief/beyond-health-care-the-role-of-social-determinants-in-promoting-health-and-health-equity/ (Links to an external site.)
Article 2: Navigating the journey upstream: Four healthcare organizations and their experience with strategic frameworks to address social determinants of health. Health Begins. https://www.healthbegins.org/uploads/2/2/0/4/22040328/navigating_the_journey_upstream_a_case_study_synthesis_and_analysis_2.pdf (Links to an external site.)
Article 3: Realigning Health with Care: Lessons in delivering more with less. Rebecca Onie, Paul Farmer, & Heidi Behforouz Download Article 3: Realigning Health with Care: Lessons in delivering more with less. Rebecca Onie, Paul Farmer, & Heidi Behforouz.
Visit:
Escape Fire: The Fight to Rescue American Healthcare http://www.escapefiremovie.com/issues (Links to an external site.)
Watch:
Rishi Manchanda “What makes us get sick? Look upstream” https://www.ted.com/talks/rishi_manchanda_what_makes_us_get_sick_look_upstream?language=aeb
Assignment:
Module 4 Discussion: Social Determinants of Health
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1. From your review of the materials for this week, why do you think the American health care system costs more than the systems in place in most advanced western democracies, and yet gets worse outcomes on nearly every measure? What are some of the “issues” in American health care that Escape Fire suggests cause our system not to function effectively? Referencing items from this module, discuss some of the promising interventions and new ways of providing care that might improve our system. Do you believe an “upstream” approach holds promise?