Description

Session Description

The integration of social drivers of health (SDOH) and health equity have increasingly become standard within healthcare operations. With that, while maintaining focus on advocacy and external audiences, it has become essential to also develop effective internal communications that share our purpose, aid participation and productivity, and bridge inter-disciplinary silos.

The MetroHealth System in Cleveland Ohio is a safety net healthcare provider in a high disparity area. The Why of health equity has always been a powerful engagement driver of our leadership, workforce, philanthropy, and strong connections with the local community, community-based and social services organizations. Today, healthcare organizations must also effectively communicate The How of addressing social drivers while providing care. Healthcare industry regulators and payors increased focus on social drivers and health equity in patient care. This demands new communications approaches now effectively guiding healthcare operations. This presentation will explore communication strategies focused on external stakeholders, including funders and community; and diverse internal audiences: frontline workforce addressing patients’ social drivers, clinicians, operations, legal and privacy, technology teams. Patient communication about social determinants has also evolved and required a thoughtful approach, as we increasingly engage patients with screening and response. These approaches will also be presented.

Session Takeaways

• Learn your stakeholders' diverse perspectives, vocabularies, and passions to operationalize social drivers within your healthcare organization and impress external stakeholders.
• Begin with the end in mind. Effective communication should achieve better engagement and productivity, elimination of information silos.
• Cascade down and out: Maximize your organization's potential by identifying and utilizing key communication points and opportunities both internally and with external stakeholders.