Our Key Takeaways from the MDHHS Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) Summit

The Michigan Department of Health & Human Services (MDHHS) hosted its second annual Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) Summit last month. This event aimed to bring together diverse stakeholders across Michigan to explore the critical factors influencing health beyond traditional medical care and foster collaboration to improve health outcomes for all residents. Here are our key takeaways:

Exploring SDOH and Its Impact:

The summit highlighted the critical role that SDOH, including maternal health, behavioral health, childcare, food access and housing, play in determining health outcomes for various communities across Michigan. Each panel discussion and breakout session aimed to highlight disparities that exist and showcase promising solutions to address these issues.

The Critical Importance of Collaboration and Community Engagement

Collaboration is more than a buzzword. The summit emphasized the need to move beyond siloed efforts and actively work together to maximize resources and knowledge, ultimately increasing the impact of interventions. In order to effectively address SDOH and meaningfully improve the health and wellness of Michiganders, we must work together across agencies, organizations and institutions to harness data-informed insights that have the power to transform whole-person health outcomes.

Going beyond the critical importance of cross-sector collaboration, the summit highlighted the pivotal role that community engagement plays in effectively addressing SDOH. By combining data analysis with meaningful community engagement – listening to lived experiences and incorporating community perspectives –? we can develop data-driven solutions that resonate with the needs of the people they attempt to serve.

Harnessing the Power of Data for Change:

The summit also addressed the importance of data and information in achieving health equity. Data plays an integral role in understanding disparities - but data alone is not enough. Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist made the powerful statement that, "lack of information is deadly.” That’s true. Data plays an integral role in understanding disparities - but data alone is not enough.

?Allowing the members of an individual's care team – whether that is a doctor, a therapist, a social worker or a food pantry – to appropriately access and securely share information is the cornerstone of the current health information exchange (HIE) landscape and the emerging health data utility (HDU) model. It goes beyond simply working together towards a common goal and acknowledges the unique strengths and perspectives each entity brings to the table.

?By enabling the secure and standardized exchange of health data across different providers and systems, HIEs and HDUs can contribute to addressing SDOH disparities. This can happen by:

• Identifying individuals with unmet social needs: Utilizing data to identify individuals or communities facing specific SDOH challenges based on factors like zip code or social determinants screening tools.
• Coordinating care across diverse settings: Facilitating communication and information sharing between healthcare providers, social service agencies, and community organizations, allowing for more holistic and coordinated care plans.
• Tracking and measuring impact: Enabling the collection and analysis of data related to SDOH interventions, allowing for better evaluation of their effectiveness and potential for scaling up successful approaches.

A Marathon & Not a Sprint

The summit resonated with a genuine commitment to serving the people of Michigan and ensuring access to resources that promote well-being and prosperity. This dedication forms the foundation for collaborative efforts and signifies a critical shift towards addressing health disparities with a sense of responsibility and collective action. It’s important to keep in mind that this work is a marathon and not a sprint. To advance health equity, minimize disparities and create environments where health and wellness can be maximized, we need data to drive smart policies, funding to invest in the social and environmental factors that influence health and a commitment to equity across all industries and sectors.

Beyond the Summit:

By fostering a collaborative environment where organizations leverage their intersecting expertise, the Michigan SDOH Summit reminds us that achieving health equity requires a collective effort that transcends individual silos and empowers diverse stakeholders to work together towards a healthier and more equitable future for all residents. MiHIN is proud to be a partner to MDHHS and countless other agencies and organizations. It remains committed to addressing SDOH and advancing health equity through its role as a neutral steward of data.

?Additional Resources

The MDHHS Policy and Planning team is leading the development of an innovative, collaborative statewide SDOH Strategy, entitled?Michigan's Roadmap to Healthy Communities. The third phase of the strategy, which was unveiled at the summit, is currently underway. To learn more about this important work, click here.

?For additional information on the annual MDHHS SDOH summit itself, click here .