Understanding and Addressing Social Determinants of Health: Opportunities to Improve Health Outcomes A Guide for Rural Health Care Leaders

This guide provides rural health care leaders and teams with foundational knowledge, strategies, and resources to understand the impact of social determinants of health (SDOH) on patients and communities. It organizes key information and resources to help the busy manager support and lead education and discussion with front-line staff. This guide focuses on (1) understanding the need and opportunity around addressing SDOH, (2) using local data to support decision making, and (3) involving team members to plan and implement action steps.It is intended for leaders in a variety of clinical and public or community health settings, and includes the following sections:

• Build Awareness: Understand SDOH
• Recognize Needs: Identify Local SDOH
• Identify Opportunities for Action
• Plan Next Steps
• Additional Resources