The Hidden Prescription: Why Social Determinants of Health Deserve Center Stage in Medical Care

Thank you for reading my latest article, The Hidden Prescription: Why Social Determinants of Health Deserve Center Stage in Medical Care. I frequently share insights on healthcare, healthcare innovations, and healthcare education. To stay updated with my future articles, simply click 'Subscribe' to my newsletter, World of Health.

The inspiration for this article comes from my current PhD course, 'Theoretical Orientations in Public Health Sciences' where we explored the vital role of social determinants of health (SDOH), which encouraged me to reflect on their significance in shaping health outcomes.

Assume that two patients walk into a clinic. Both have hypertension, yet one controls their blood pressure effectively while the other struggles despite receiving the same medication. What explains this divergence? The answer lies not just in biology but in the often-overlooked realm of social determinants of health (SDOH).

Health is more than what happens within hospital walls. As the data reveal, socioeconomic factors, physical environment, and health behaviors account for a staggering 80% of health outcomes. Clinical care? It contributes just 20% — and yet, the U.S. spends 90% of its healthcare budget on medical services. This disconnect is more than a funding imbalance; it’s a failure to address the very forces that shape well-being.

The Silent Influencers: What Shapes Our Health?

• Socioeconomic Factors (40%): Education, employment, income, and social support networks heavily influence health outcomes. For instance, individuals facing financial insecurity may struggle to afford medications or healthy foods.
• Health Behaviors (30%): Choices related to tobacco use, diet, exercise, and alcohol consumption significantly impact chronic conditions like hypertension and diabetes.
• Physical Environment (10%): Safe housing, access to clean water, and secure neighborhoods are foundational yet often overlooked determinants.

Meanwhile, access to clinical care — the very sector that dominates U.S. healthcare spending — accounts for just 20% of overall outcomes.

The Cost of Misalignment

Despite clear evidence that social determinants carry more weight in shaping outcomes, the U.S. healthcare system directs 90% of its $2.6 trillion spending toward medical services, while investing far less in the social factors that keep people healthy in the first place. This mismatch resembles spending fortunes on mopping a floor while ignoring the leaking pipe above.

A New Prescription for Better Health

Ambitiously, imagine a future where physicians don’t just prescribe medications — they also prescribe stable housing, nutritious meals, safe transportation or ... at least seriously advocate for SDOH.

By investing in social determinants, we can achieve better outcomes at lower costs. The data are clear: improving health isn’t just about what happens in the exam room — it’s about building healthier lives outside of it.

If we truly want to improve health outcomes, we must broaden our focus beyond pills and procedures. The path to better healthcare runs through the neighborhoods, homes, and environments where people live their daily lives.

Below, I ask you to rate the SDOH based on their impact and importance as it relates to health outcomes. (Not sure if this actually works perfectly fine, but let's give it a shot. I'll report back on the result in some way.)

Instructions

1. Go to https://www.menti.com/
2. Insert 75613035 into the box to respond to 'Enter the code to join.'
3. Rate on the grid regarding the impact and importance of each of the five listed factors that may affect health.
4. Click submit