The US Playbook to Address Social Determinants of Health
How do we move beyond “admiring” problems caused by social determinants of health, to truly addressing problems? The US Playbook to Address Social Determinants of Playbook offers a way. The lead author of that whole-of-government strategy joins us on Quality Matters.
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About The Guest
A board-certified pediatrician, Dr. Ford has served in executive leadership roles at the local, state and federal levels. During her tenure at the White House, she focused on health equity, maternal and child health, and social determinants of health. She is the principal author of the White House Action Plan identifying whole-of-government policy actions to address social determinants of health.
Previously:
- Special Assistant to the President for Public Health and Science, Washington, DC
- Special Assistant for Healthcare, Office of the Chief Executive Officer, DeKalb County, Georgia
Episode Description
We know social factors impact health. But knowing isn’t enough.
To help bridge gaps in care and health outcomes related to social factors, the Department of Health and Human Services published the US Playbook to Address Social Determinants of Health.
In this episode of Quality Matters, we speak to the Playbook’s lead author, Dr. Sandra Ford. Dr. Ford is a pediatrician and longtime advocate with deep experience leading local public health efforts, mainly in the Atlanta region. She worked at the White House from 2021 to 2023.
Timestamps
(2:49) Playbook Pillar 1: Data Gathering & Data Sharing
(6:10) Playbook Pillar 2: Flexible Funding to Support Social Needs
(8:13 ) Playbook Pillar 3: Supporting Backbone Organizations
(10:41) The Primacy of Data
(12:48) Lessons Learned