SHM Converge Scientific Abstract ePoster Gallery-Improving Social Risk Factors Screening and Follow-Up Among Hospitalized Children

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This quality improvement project aimed to increase screening for social determinants of health (SDoH) and improve follow-up for hospitalized children on general medical units, especially those at risk for food insecurity, housing instability, or transportation barriers. The team used the Model for Improvement and PDSA cycles to test both electronic health record (EHR) and non-EHR interventions, including a patient list column, provider note reminders, embedding screening into social work assessment, staff education, and audit/feedback.<br /><br />The project’s goals were to improve the rate of SDoH screening and to increase the rate of completed social work consults, 211 resource referrals, or emergency food pantry orders for patients identified as at risk.<br /><br />Over 14 months, screening before discharge improved from 43.1% to 82.5%, showing special cause variation. The percentage of at-risk patients who received targeted resources increased from 30.7% to 54.9%, also with special cause variation. The rate of social work consult orders remained at 60%.<br /><br />The authors concluded that widespread EHR-based screening can help connect hospitalized pediatric patients with needed resources, but important gaps remain. Next steps include strengthening screening and follow-up through audit and feedback, increasing multidisciplinary unit-based engagement, evaluating whether screening and referrals are equitable across patient groups, and assessing how usable and effective the EHR tools are.

Asset Subtitle

Grace I. Ng

Meta Tag

Author List Anne Fallon, Grace I. Ng, Matthew Present, Sonia Joshi

Category Research

Concept Social Determinants of Health Screening

Concept Hospitalized Children

Concept Food Insecurity

Concept Housing Insecurity

Concept Quality Improvement

Distinguished Non-Finalist

Presenter Organization University of Rochester Medical Center

Presenting Author Grace I. Ng

Track Quality Improvement

Keywords

social determinants of health

SDoH screening

pediatric hospitalization

general medical units

food insecurity

housing instability

transportation barriers

electronic health record

social work consults

quality improvement

Social Determinants of Health Screening

Hospitalized Children

Food Insecurity

Housing Insecurity

Quality Improvement