The Role of Clinicians and Health Systems in Caring for Community Health

Introduction:

On Thursday, March 3, 2022, Dr. William Tierney, MD, presented The Role of Clinicians and Health Systems in Caring for Community Health as the third lecture in the HERE series. Well-established research has shown that social factors (income, transportation, housing, food access, and where you live) have a much greater impact on health outcomes (how long you live and the quality of your life) than clinical care. Yet in the U.S., unlike other wealthy countries, we spend much more on health care than social care and as a result, have among the worst health outcomes. Recent research has shown that meeting patients’ social needs (e.g. food and housing) can not only improve their well-being but also lower overall health care costs. Dr. Tierney will discuss a model of primary care that incorporates social care by having a primary care health center in a low-income area take responsibility for the neighborhood in which it lives.