• Home
  • Advertise With Us
  • Login

KC Our Health Matters

Black Men Speak: Health, Strength and Hope
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Awards & Events
    • Advertise With Us
  • Our Departments
    • Community
    • Cover Story
    • Food & Fitness
    • Online Articles
    • Health
    • Publisher’s Greeting
    • Videos
  • Digital Magazine
    • Digital Magazine
    • Caregivers Resource Guide
  • Subscription
  • Vaccination Update
    • COVID-19
  • Contact Us
You are at :Home»Cover Story»Social Connections Mean More Than You May Know

Social Connections Mean More Than You May Know

Cover Story

Healthcare providers are adding another perspective to achieving better health outcomes.

By Teresa Gerard, MBA
CEO, Guardian Group, LLC

Healthcare and community-based organizations (CBOs) are realizing they need to work together to address the whole person with patient-centered care and client-centered programs and services. A joint effort is emerging to standardize patient screening, streamline referrals, provide navigation assistance, and track outcomes for social needs. These organizations are striving to identify and remove the barriers individuals and families face with accessing community resources and public benefits.

What are considered to be social needs and why are they important to the health of people?

Social needs include:

  • Healthy food
  • Affordable housing
  • Reliable transportation
  • Quality education
  • Full employment
  • Supportive family and social relationships

Did you know having social needs met is essential to your health and well-being? Studies are finding this connection helps prevent medical conditions and related costs, lengthens life expectancy and improves the overall quality of your life.

Where are Screenings Performed?

Screening for social needs can take place in a variety of settings from your healthcare provider’s office to a community center, your place of worship, your child’s school, or over the phone with an outreach worker.

A few professionals who might ask you to participate in a screening are: hospital discharge planners, social workers, community health workers, case workers, case managers, care coordinators, counselors, health plan representatives, community navigators, and family advocates.

Before making referrals for your social needs, organizations will help you determine your priorities and set goals. Organizations will then provide up-to-date referral information and a warm handoff (phone call, fax, email, secure text message, or electronic referral application), if possible.

Ongoing navigation assistance may be necessary to remove barriers that you encounter, such as transportation, or limited resources. With closed-loop referrals, outcomes can be tracked whereby CBOs communicate back to healthcare organizations when services are rendered or programs are completed.

Since social needs change over time, the screening process should be repeated periodically and progress on goals assessed. Plus, additional social need referrals may be necessary to address new issues, priorities, and goals. By being honest during the screening process, thoughtfully setting goals, following-up on referrals, and communicating barriers encountered, you can access valuable community resources and public benefits for your family and you.

2020-01-13
kcourhealthmatters
linkedin Facebook Instagram Twitter Pinterest Stumble More
Previous Article :

Injectable Weight-Loss Medication May be the Missing Piece

Next Article :

Plant-Based Foods Lifestyle Gaining in Popularity

Related Articles

Making Sense of Why Some People Experience  Poorer Health Outcomes

Making Sense of Why Some People Experience Poorer Health Outcomes

kcourhealthmatters 30 Apr 2017
12 Years, A Brave Step: Pursuing Health Literacy to Improve Health Outcomes

12 Years, A Brave Step: Pursuing Health Literacy to Improve Health Outcomes

kcourhealthmatters 30 Apr 2017
Unchecked Stress Can Seriously Affect Your Health

Unchecked Stress Can Seriously Affect Your Health

kcourhealthmatters 01 May 2017

Vaccine Updates

Sheffield Place

Mother’s Refuge

Hope Haven of Cass County

Benilde Hall

Popular Articles

Who Cares for the Caregiver?
Health

Who Cares for the Caregiver?

kcourhealthmatters 10 Nov 2017
health matters
Cover Story

The Importance of Regular Eye Exams

kcourhealthmatters 12 Sep 2017
Achieving Goals
Health

Jobs, Education, and Training Support Healthier Lives

kcourhealthmatters 20 Apr 2017
Are Pilates Right for you
Food & Fitness

You’ve Heard of Pilates, But Is it Right for You?

kcourhealthmatters 05 Jul 2017
Five Ways to Make Getting Healthy a Family Affair
Health

Five Ways to Make Getting Healthy a Family Affair

kcourhealthmatters 05 Jul 2017
  • Community
  • Food & Fitness
  • Health
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap

KC Our Health Matters
Since Our Health Matters™ launched in 2005, we have provided readers with insight into how to live healthier lives.

Recent Posts

  • Black Men Speak: Health, Strength and Hope

    Black Men Speak: Health, Strength and Hope

    18 Nov 2022
  • GET THE FACTS ABOUT LONG-TERM & SHORT-TERM SKILLED CARE

    GET THE FACTS ABOUT LONG-TERM & SHORT-TERM SKILLED CARE

    11 Oct 2022
  • Aging Changes Our Bones

    Aging Changes Our Bones

    11 Oct 2022

Subscribe Now

    Copyright 2021, All Rights Reserved - KC Our Health Matters