Confronting the complex social and economic dynamics that drive systemic health disparities requires equal sensitivity and care and extraordinary training and skill, especially as these complex dynamics keep so many disadvantaged groups from having their basic needs met. We must proactively embrace the notion of whole-person care and treat patients as people, not a collection of symptoms or numbers on a chart. Whole-person care paints a fuller picture of each person by situating them in the real-world, everyday context in which they already live, including their psychology, habits, impulses, social connections, geographic locations, backgrounds and sometimes just plain luck. These social determinants of health (SDoH) are fundamental to transformative healthcare and providing the care everyone deserves, yet the impacts they have on health often go unrecognized in risk scores and quality measurements. Attendees in this session will learn that by honoring whole-person care at every opportunity, we can sharpen our skills and come to a deeper understanding of how disparate pieces shape a patient’s dynamic life. This session will explore the case of “Ms. P,” a 60-year-old DNSP patient, as an example of whole-person and health equity approaches to care.
Learning Objectives:
Outline whole-person care using a health-equity approach
Examine the role of social determinants of health and socioeconomic characteristics in providing truly equitable care
Breakdown how integrated care creates an experience rooted in equity and cognizant of socioeconomic disparity
