How can emotional intelligence help Case Managers identify social determinants of health?

1 What are SDOH?

SDOH are the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age that influence their health and quality of life. They include factors such as income, education, employment, housing, transportation, social support, culture, and access to health care and services. SDOH can have a significant impact on the health risks, behaviors, and outcomes of individuals and communities, especially for those who face systemic barriers and disadvantages. Case managers need to be aware of the SDOH that affect their clients and how they can influence their needs, goals, preferences, and resources.

3 How can EI help address SDOH?

EI can help case managers address SDOH by enabling them to plan, implement, and evaluate interventions tailored to their clients' needs, goals, and resources. This can involve involving clients in the assessment, planning, and decision-making process while respecting their autonomy. Additionally, EI can help case managers identify and prioritize the SDOH that are most relevant and feasible to address, as well as coordinate with other professionals who can provide support. Furthermore, case managers can monitor and follow up on the progress of interventions while providing feedback to their clients. Lastly, they can review and revise the interventions as needed based on changing needs and circumstances. By using EI skills, case managers can deliver client-centered and evidence-based interventions that address the SDOH and improve their clients' health and quality of life.

4 How can EI help case managers cope with stress and burnout?

Case management can be a rewarding yet stressful and demanding profession, as case managers often encounter complex, challenging, and emotionally charged situations like trauma, abuse, violence, poverty, discrimination, or injustice. They may also experience high workloads, time pressures, ethical dilemmas, role conflicts, and organizational constraints. These factors can take a toll on their mental and emotional health, leading to stress, burnout, compassion fatigue, or vicarious trauma. Emotional Intelligence (EI) can help case managers cope with stress and burnout by improving their ability to regulate their own emotions and seek and use social support. EI can assist case managers in recognizing and acknowledging their own emotions; managing and expressing their emotions in healthy ways; practicing self-care and self-compassion; seeking and using social support from colleagues, supervisors, friends or family; and learning from their experiences. By using EI skills, case managers can boost their resilience and well-being while preventing or reducing the negative effects of stress and burnout.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?