Improving Screening for Social Determinants of Health in a Pediatric Resident Clinic: A Quality Improvement Initiative

• Published in: Pediatric quality & safety 2021-07, Vol.6 (4), p.e419-e419
• Main Authors: Friedman, Suzanne, Caddle, Steve, Motelow, Joshua E., Meyer, Dodi, Lane, Mariellen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Individual QI projects from single institutions
• ISSN: 2472-0054; 2472-0054
• DOI: 10.1097/pq9.0000000000000419

Social determinants of health (SDOH) account for 80% of modifiable factors in a population's health. Addressing SDOH in a healthcare setting can improve care, patient experience, health outcomes, and decrease cost. Therefore, screening for SODH in the pediatric setting has become an essential and evidence-based component of pediatric preventative care. Multiple barriers exist for its implementation, particularly for trainees. Using resident-driven quality improvement (QI) methodology, we aimed to increase SDOH screening to >90% for 9 individual questions at newborn and 1-year well visits and completely screen for all 9 questions at more than 40% of visits. Parents were provided with a paper screening form upon arrival to be completed before visits. We performed tests of change to improve distribution, documentation, and quality of interventions. The primary outcome of complete screening for all 9 questions increased from 24% to 43% at newborn visits and 28% to 83% at 1-year visits. Screenings that identified at least 1 need increased from 8% to 19%, with provider response to an identified need increasing from 20% to 40%. These metrics were the secondary outcome measures. The use of parent completed paper screening forms improved SDOH screening, documentation, and interventions by residents and faculty.