Remote Care and Social Determinants of Health

Did you know that economic status, food security, the physical environment, and education affect 80% of your health and well-being, and the other 20% is determined by access to quality care? We already know that remote health care increases a person’s chances to access health care. On the other hand, the social determinants of health (SDoH) can be described as the structural conditions to which a person is born and grows. Today, we look at the relationship between remote care and SDoH.

What Are SDoH?

As earlier mentioned, SDoH is part of a person’s experiences that determine their health and wellness. Now, these parts could be anything. As a result, taking note of everything that happens in life can be challenging to shape your desires to live a long and fulfilled life.

SDoH influences almost everything we do, like what we’ll eat for breakfast, where the kids will learn and how they will get there, how we will build our house, and how long our appointments are.

But, it is worth noting that social determinants of health do not have a particular definition. Instead, the meaning depends on the individual. Healthcare professionals narrow the definition into five categories;

• Access to Health Services
• Education
• Environment
• Income
• Transportation

The argument is that when you address one SDoH, the others start to build up. For instance, governments and other organizations can build excellent public transit in rural areas with poor roads. As such, individuals in these areas can have quick access to supermarkets, healthcare centers, and jobs. So, as you can see from this example, when transportation is addressed, it builds up income and access to healthcare and food. In short, SDoHs are interconnected. Therefore, having a well-planned and executed initiative can benefit individuals in a place.

Related Article: Choosing Remote Monitoring Devices for Your Patients

What is Remote Care?

Remote care is a medical service where healthcare providers monitor a patient’s condition and how they respond to treatment outside medical facilities. Clinicians use mobile devices that monitor vital signs. Then the results are transmitted to the care center, where they are automatically analyzed. If there is any emergency, a medical professional will contact the patient and send an ambulance to bring them to the hospital.

Remote care helps reduce the period one stays in the hospital, which frees the medical staff. Also, it helps the patient adhere to their doctor’s medical advice and leads to a better outcome.

Remote Care and SDoH

While SDoH shapes a person, it can sometimes hinder their chances of fulfilling and healthy lives. Thankfully, remote healthcare providers can help alter and shape social determinants of health. Although they won’t manage bus routes, they can offer their services to vulnerable populations, especially those with chronic diseases. As a result, it leads to improved outcomes.

Public health agencies and organizations like WHO have special teams that tackle SDoH disparities. However, they haven’t been 100% successful because they lack a team of healthcare workers to help collect patient data and recommend excellent interventions.

Remote care can help solve these disparities. It’s like a pipeline that helps solve SDoH barriers. Think about it. Through remote care, patients with chronic illnesses can access a health provider who can help them find a solution to their issues. For instance, a medical provider can help those most vulnerable to Covid-19 to schedule a vaccine shot.

Remote care offers a pathway to address problems with SDoH and prioritize public health. Remote care nurses can help patients to get a means to see their doctors and perform the needed tests. They can monitor whether a patient complies with their medical recommendations and whether they can afford it in the first place. Plus, they can increase a patient’s social network through monthly check-ups.

Additionally, these nurses can help determine food insecurity and environmental factors threatening a person’s health. For instance, they can uncover a lack of air conditioning caused by weather changes or a faulty appliance. While they can’t show up in your house and start fixing your faulty appliances, these nurses can guide patients towards resources to help solve the issue.

How Can Healthcare Providers Help Reduce Health Inequities?

One of the ways healthcare providers can address SDoH is by integrating healthcare and social care. They can look for partnerships and referral systems connecting patients’ needs to the right social services. This way, they can impact and engage vulnerable populations systematically.

Again, providers need to focus on caring for the patient as a whole. There are various software options they can use to leverage SDoH work. But, they need to recognize social and environmental factors that affect a patient encounter to ensure that inequities aren’t a barrier.

Final Thoughts

Remote care can help address SDoH barriers, leading to better health outcomes. Through remote monitoring, remote nurses can support patients outside medical facilities and ensure they comply with their medical recommendations.