Your Resource for HQIC News and Learning Opportunities | July 2022 |
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Social Determinants of Health |
Social determinants of health (SDOH) are environmental conditions that include socioeconomic status, education, where people live, healthcare access and quality, and community and social networks. These determinants have a significant impact on health outcomes and make up 80 percent to 90 percent of modifiable health outcome contributors in the population, compared to 10 percent to 20 percent of contributors accounted for by medical care.1
Patients who experience disparities related to SDOH face higher readmission and mortality rates and are more likely to have poor health outcomes.2 To achieve the best results for patients, it is necessary to address SDOH in the population and essential for hospitals to participate in this work. Hospitals can contribute by using social needs screening tools to identify SDOH impacting their patients, participating in and supporting community initiatives, and implementing strategies and initiatives of their own. All of this can improve social conditions and lead to better health outcomes in the populations hospitals serve.3
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It Figures—Data and Performance |
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Readmission Rates and Disparities
The all-cause readmissions data below show that dual eligible patients, who are covered by both Medicare and Medicaid, were readmitted at higher rates than patients who are not dual eligible during both the baseline period and the current time period (lower rates are better).
To assist hospitals in identifying their own disparities in healthcare outcomes, the HSAG HQIC Quality Improvement Innovation Portal (QIIP) Performance Dashboard allows hospitals to stratify most outcome measures by race/ethnicity, age, and dual eligibility as a proxy measure for SDOH. Contact your HSAG HQIC Quality Advisor for assistance in accessing or interpreting the demographics data in the QIIP Performance Dashboard.
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*Source: Medicare Fee-for-Service Claims Data. The baseline time period is 01/01/2019–12/31/2019 and current time period is 09/01/2020–12/31/2021. |
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The following resources are available to assist hospitals with SDOH. |
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SDOH Toolkit
This document is designed for hospitals in rural and high-deprivation areas where people are more likely to experience disparities related to SDOH. It includes strategies and links to resources.
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Social Work Assessment Tool
This document is intended for hospitals to use in assessing patients’ social needs and identifying any potential determinants of health that could impact their health outcomes.
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Zone Tools
Hospitals can give these downloadable tools to their patients to assist in managing common health conditions upon discharge from the hospital. These tools are in simple language and easy to understand, so they are appropriate for patients with low health literacy and can improve patient and family engagement in their own care.
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Area Deprivation Index (ADI)
This web tool ranks neighborhoods at the census block group level by socioeconomic disadvantage and aggregates multiple SDOH impacting a population into a single measure. Using the mapping tool, which is part of the ADI, hospitals can identify the socioeconomic and deprivation levels that their patient populations are experiencing.
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Spread the Word, Not Germs
Hand hygiene is a crucial component in reducing infection. Cleaning your hands is simple and effective in preventing the spread of germs. However, on average, healthcare providers clean their hands less than half the time they should.4 Consider using the HSAG HQIC Clean Hands Pledge patient poster to encourage patients to wash their hands and to ask others to do the same.
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Preventing Adverse Glycemic Events*
Thursday, July 14, 2022 | 1–2 p.m. ET
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This session will identify and discuss key contributing factors of adverse glycemic events and explore how promoting safe practices for glycemic agents can improve the outcomes for the hypo- and hyperglycemic electronic clinical quality measures (eCQMs).
Presenter
Matthew Grissinger, RPh, FISMP, FASCP
Director of Error Reporting Programs, Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP)
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Quality and Safety Series Finale: Control Plan and Sustainability*
Tuesday, July 26, 2022 | 2–3 p.m. ET
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This is the final installment of the HSAG HQIC Quality and Safety series. If you have pre-registered for the Quality and Safety series, you are already registered for this event.
Presenter
Dave Orr, MBA, MBB, CPHQ
Senior Director, Enterprise Safety and Quality, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH
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* Continuing Education (CE): Health Services Advisory Group, Inc., is the CE provider for this event. Provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider Number 16578, for 1 contact hour. There is no charge to attend this event. You must attend the live event to earn CE credit. |
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HSAG HQIC Quality and Safety Series
Offered on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month, these bite-size learning presentations review the key skills necessary for you to function in quality improvement and are intended as a foundation for the novice or as a skills refresher for the expert.
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HSAG Care Coordination Series
This series will walk you through the steps for managing avoidable hospital readmissions. Offered on the 1st Tuesday of the month.
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References
2 Jonnalagadda P, Swoboda CM, Fareed N. Using area-level measures of social determinants of health to deliver improved and effective health care. Journal of Hospital Management and Health Policy. Vol 4, Dec 2020. https://jhmhp.amegroups.com/article/view/6527/html.
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This material was prepared by Health Services Advisory Group (HSAG), a Hospital Quality Improvement Contractor (HQIC) under contract with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Views expressed in this material do not necessarily reflect the official views or policy of CMS or HHS, and any reference to a specific product or entity herein does not constitute endorsement of that product or entity by CMS or HHS. Publication No XS-HQIC-XT-07052022-01 |
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