Completion of Social Drivers of Health Screenings in Pediatric Practices Participating in a Quality Improvement Initiative.

OBJECTIVES

The Indiana Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (INAAP) participated in a national quality improvement project led by the AAP called Addressing Social Health and Early Childhood Wellness, which sought to screen for and address social drivers of health (SDoH), socioemotional development, and perinatal depression in pediatric practices through practice and system improvement. This project aims to evaluate positive SDoH screenings and subsequent referrals from participating Indiana practices.

METHODS

Ten pediatric practices in mid-central Indiana participated in this collaboration between July 2020 and July 2021 and submitted information about clinic resources, patient demographics, and process measures. Monthly chart reviews of well-child visits assessed completion of SDoH screenings, discussion of screening results with families, and referrals for positive screens. Composite measures of performance were developed from chart review.

RESULTS

Measures showed significant improvements in SDoH screening and identified opportunities for improvement in the care continuum. SDoH screenings of eligible patients significantly increased from 21% to 62% on average ( p = 0.0002). Needed referrals fulfilled increased from 37% to 57% ( p = 0.003) on average. Interestingly, no significant improvement was seen in referring patients who screened positive (81% vs 89%, p = 0.0949).

CONCLUSION

This project provided a framework for successful development and efficient integration of screening and referral processes into clinic workflow. Implementing Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles, monthly chart reviews, and collaborative meetings facilitated increased documentation of screening, counseling, and referral for positive SDoH screens in participating practices. Future analysis should measure health outcomes and social and community capital derived by health systems and patients from such interventions.