SWRK 6204 social determinants of health

THE PAPER HAS TO BE THE SAME TOPIC AS MY DISCUSSION POST WHICH IS RIGHT BELOW.

Social determinants of health (SDOH) are non-medical factors that influence health outcomes (NEJM Catalyst, 2017). They include conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age; including factors and systems that shape our daily lives (NEJM Catalyst, 2017). Some factors include political systems, social policies, social norms, development agendas, and economic policies and systems. These factors may be influenced by socioeconomic factors, environmental conditions, cultural norms, and access to resources. Medical Social Work practice acknowledges the significance of these determinants in shaping health outcomes and seeks to address them to improve overall health and well-being.

As far as intervention goes, Medical Social Workers address social determinants by helping patients connect to appropriate services and supports. This may involve providing information about available community resources, assisting with applications for social assistance programs, coordinating with housing agencies, or facilitating access to mental health services. By addressing these determinants, Medical Social Workers aim to improve patients’ overall well-being and reduce health disparities.

In my opinion, the underserved population is individuals with developmental disabilities (IDD). According to Slashcheva, et al., 2016, “patients with IDD will experience a patchwork form of uncoordinated health care that leaves them without adequate access to essential health care services.” Individuals with developmental disabilities are four times more likely to report poor health and healthcare services than any other population (Slashcheva, et al., 2016). This population is underserved in many ways, for example: medically, dental care, lack of service providers, and residential facilities get backlash from the communities in which homes exist to care for medically fragile patients. Some individuals are also taken advantage of by primary caretakers and providers, often clients cannot even advocate for themselves. According to Slashcheva, et al., 2016, and according to the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), “populations can be considered medically underserved if its Medical Indes Underservice score is less than 62.0.” The score also takes into account the various features of a population, including age, poverty, mortality rate, and clinical density, which means how many clinicians in a specific practice such as mental health, primary care, or dentistry exist in a given geographical area or patient population (Slashcheva, et al., 2016).

Advocacy is vital in Medical Social Work practice, especially when addressing systemic problems that contribute to health inequalities (Bullock, K., et. al., 2021). It is imperative job for Medical Social Workers to advocate for policy changes, improved access to healthcare services, and increased funding (Bullock, K., et. al., 2021). Advocacy efforts may help Medical Social Workers to strive and create a more equitable healthcare system for patients with IDD and may help address the underlying causes of health and healthcare disparities (Bullock, K., et. al., 2021).

In conclusion, by addressing social determinants such as socioeconomic status, access to healthcare, and social support networks, Medical Social Workers may help patients eliminate barriers to health and well-being, with the result of possibly reducing disparities among underserved populations.

Resources:

Gehlert, S., & Browne, T. (Eds.). (2019). Handbook of health social work (3rd ed.). Wiley.

Bullock, K., Damiano, S., & Sinclair, S. (2021, April 24). Social workers can lead the way in addressing health inequities.Links to an external site. Center to Advance Palliative Care. https://www.capc.org/blog/social-workers-can-lead-…

NEJM Catalyst. (2017, December 1). Social determinants of health (SDOH).Links to an external site. Innovations in Care Delivery. https://catalyst.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/CAT.17.0312 Links to an external site.

Slashcheva, L., Rader, R., & Sulkes, S. B. (2016). Would People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Benefit from Being Designated “Underserved”?. AMA Journal of Ethics, 18(4), 422–429. https://doi.org/10.1001/journalofethics.2016.18.4.pfor1-1604.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). Social determinants of health.Links to an external site. https://health.gov/healthypeople/priority-areas/so…

BY DAY 7

Submit a 4- to 5-page paper in which you:

• Identify the population(s) affected by the health issue you selected (e.g., racial/ethnic identity groups, people who identify as LGBTQ+, religious communities, older adults). Explain how this population is discriminately affected by the health issue you selected.
• Explain the primary determinants of the health issue. Then, explain how these determinants contribute to the disparities in care for the population.
• Explain what specific social work interventions you might implement to address this health issue, reduce or eliminate disparities, and improve health outcomes.
• Explain the advocacy roles a medical social worker might play in addressing the disparities in health care for the health issue and population you selected.

Use the Learning Resources and additional research to support your Assignment. Make sure to provide APA citations and a reference list.

• Verily. (2022, April 21). Understanding social determinants of healthLinks to an external site. [Video]. YouTube.
• Gehlert, S., & Browne, T. (Eds.). (2019). Handbook of health social work (3rd ed.). Wiley.
  • Chapter 5, “Public Health Social Work” (pp. 93-118)
• Bullock, K., Damiano, S., & Sinclair, S. (2021, April 24). Social workers can lead the way in addressing health inequities.Links to an external site. Center to Advance Palliative Care. https://www.capc.org/blog/social-workers-can-lead-…
• NEJM Catalyst. (2017, December 1). Social determinants of health (SDOH).Links to an external site. Innovations in Care Delivery. https://catalyst.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/CAT.17….
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). Social determinants of health.Links to an external site. https://health.gov/healthypeople/priority-areas/so…
• Gehlert, S., & Browne, T. (Eds.). (2019). Handbook of health social work (3rd ed.). Wiley.
  • Chapter 5, “Public Health Social Work” (pp. 93-118)
• Bullock, K., Damiano, S., & Sinclair, S. (2021, April 24). Social workers can lead the way in addressing health inequities.Links to an external site. Center to Advance Palliative Care. https://www.capc.org/blog/social-workers-can-lead-…
• NEJM Catalyst. (2017, December 1). Social determinants of health (SDOH).Links to an external site. Innovations in Care Delivery. https://catalyst.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/CAT.17….
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). Social determinants of health.Links to an external site. https://health.gov/healthypeople/priority-areas/so…