Health Care Trends Expected in 2022

The Disparities Dilemma

Related to SDOH is the need to close health care disparity gaps. Bollinger said it is important to remember that any population health effort to address SDOH must also take into account racial discrimination—in society in general as well as in health care. He listed some steps that health care entities can take to begin to deal with disparities:

- Prioritize the measurement of and report health disparities based on race and other SDOH factors within clinics, facilities, digital programs and among providers.

- Build meaningful partnerships with trusted community partners (eg, churches, local politicians) to enable patients to play significant roles in developing solutions that are meant to address these disparities.