An Integrated Data Framework for Public Health

While medical conditions have long been tracked through systems like ICD-10, we've lacked a comprehensive framework for measuring the social factors that keep communities healthy or make them sick. SDOH fills this critical gap using a classification system that quantifies how social and environmental conditions impact public health outcomes.

The SDOH data framework leverages classifications to create data systems that allow software of the future to integrate education, employment, housing, and healthcare into one integrated system. This allows us to design systems to address the root causes of disease. By breaking down traditional data silos using the SDOH framework, we will empower individuals and their communities to move from reactive healthcare to proactive well-being.

Healthy People 2030 SDOH Graphic

A Shift in Perspective

Traditionally, efforts to address issues such as housing, employment, education, criminal justice, and healthcare have been fragmented, with solutions pursued in isolation. However, an integrated approach is essential to effectively support individuals throughout their journey.

Consider homelessness: a social determinants of health approach reveals how addressing a housing crisis requires focusing on mental and physical health. However, it also requires addressing employment challenges, which connect to vocational education and other educational support. Integration with the criminal justice system is also required, as better discharge planning might reduce homelessness. Clearly, homelessness cannot be solved without considering these interconnected social factors that shape health and well-being.

Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) are the non-medical factors that influence health outcomes.

These factors are:

  • Education quality and access
  • Economic stability
  • Social and community context
  • Neighborhood and built environment
  • Healthcare quality and access.

These social and environmental conditions determine our health in ways that are usually not captured by our current healthcare data systems.

"Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) are social conditions that impact our health."

The U.S. Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion's Healthy People 2030 initiative categorizes SDOH into five domains:

Economic Stability ↗ Education Access & Quality ↗ Health Care Access & Quality ↗ Neighborhood & Built Environment ↗ Social & Community Context ↗

While there are several valuable approaches to organizing social determinants of health, we link to this framework for its clear organization, comprehensive coverage, well-researched metrics, and established targets.

Click any domain above to explore how these social determinants are structured.

The mission of SDOH, LLC is to harness technology to improve insights about public health data while protecting privacy and centering health equity.

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