Health Care's Blind Side: The Overlooked Connection between Social Needs and Good Health

Abstract

A national survey reveals that physicians believe unmet social needs are directly leading to worse health for Americans — and that patients’ social needs are as important to address as their medical conditions. Medical care alone cannot help people achieve and maintain good health if they do not have enough to eat, live in a dilapidated apartment without heat or are unemployed. Physicians report that their patients frequently express health concerns caused by unmet social needs beyond their control. This is health care’s blind side: Within the current health care system, physicians do not have the time or sufficient staff support…