PQA rolls out Social Determinants of Health Resource Guide
The PQA Social Determinants of Health Resource Guide is making its debut.
The guide profiles 20 real-world SDOH services that are promising for improving the quality and safety of medication use. Created by the Pharmacy Quality Alliance, the guide focuses on SDOH screenings, referrals and interventions conducted by or involving pharmacists or pharmacies.
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The guide covers services that address at least one of seven SDOH barriers:
- Cost of Medications
- Cultural or Literacy Barriers
- Decent, Safe and Affordable Housing
- Food Security
- Screening for Unmet Needs
- Social Isolation
- Transportation
“This is the first resource guide that catalogs pharmacist and pharmacy-centered SDOH services,” PQA education director Amanda Ryan said. “It provides health care professionals with ideas and examples of SDOH services they can implement in many different settings and adapt to their communities’ specific needs.”
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The guide provides information on each service’s location, scale, target population, care setting, intervention and outcomes. PQA plans to expand and update the guide as new examples are identified and as existing examples deliver new results.
“PQA members are among the nation’s leaders in addressing SDOH barriers through innovative patient-focused approaches to care,” PQA CEO Micah Cost said. “This resource guide provides practical, real-world solutions to inform and support improvements in addressing health disparities and delivering more equitable care and outcomes across the continuum of care.”
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The resources guide can be accessed by those interested in learning more online.
This activity was supported by an independent medical education grant from Merck and by Humana, whose mission is to help people achieve lifelong well-being.