Step Four: Resources
Tools and Guides for Addressing Social Determinants of Health
Explore a variety of tools, guides, and resources to help you effectively address social determinants of health (SDOH) in your practice. These resources are designed to assist healthcare teams in screening, implementing, and following up on SDOH to improve patient outcomes.
Continuing Medical Education
ArMA is proud to offer an on-demand, free CME course on Social Determinants of Health.
The Social Determinants of Health in Arizona CME On-Demand Series
This on demand medical education series is a course that addresses what healthcare professionals need to know regarding the five major determinants of death in Arizona, healthcare delivery in Arizona, ethics, and policy changes needed to impact underserved communities in Arizona. Participants of this course will have the opportunity to hear insights from experts from healthcare organizations around the state. This education series is available for access until October 15, 2025.
Implementation Guides
These guides offer a thorough overview of how to implement SDOH screening processes within your practice. They provide practical information and strategies to help healthcare teams address SDOH effectively.
American Hospital Association Screening for Social Needs Guide
Overview:
Over the past year and a half, the American Hospital Association’s (AHA) Value Initiative has collaborated with hospitals and health systems nationwide to enhance affordability and promote value. Addressing SDOH is a key strategy in this initiative.
- Key Features:
- Partnering with rideshare companies for patient follow-up appointments
- Stocking food pantries with healthy options
- Investing in affordable housing
American Hospital Association Screening for Social Needs Guide
Physician’s Guide to Addressing SDoH
Overview: This 3 page guide provides healthcare professionals with practical steps and resources to address SDOH in their practices. It includes links and tools to create effective SDOH screening processes.
- Key Features:
- Simplistic but clear outline of the implementation process
- Links to other SDoH resources
Let’s Take 5 to Address Drivers of Health
AHC Screening Tool: Promising Practices and Key Insights
Overview: CMS has released a Guide to using the AHC Health-Related Social Needs Screening Tool (and other screening tools for social risk factors), which includes insight into how to implement screening for SDOH and social risk factors, what to ask, and how to integrate screening into a practice so that the information can be used to improve health and health care. Appendix D also has an overview of other screening tools.
- Key features:
- Foster staff engagement and support
- Adapt staffing models to align with specific site characteristics
- Offer specialized training focused on screening procedures
- Develop tailored scripts to effectively involve patients in the screening process
- Optimize patient participation by thoughtfully considering the timing, location, and method of screening
- Plan for the unique needs of different populations
- Equip staff to handle privacy issues and address safety concerns
- Implement ongoing quality improvement measures
- Train staff to confidently answer frequently asked questions