Date of Award
Spring 5-24-2025
Document Type
Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscript
Degree Name
Doctor of Nursing Practice
Department
Nursing
First Advisor
Ariel Norton, DNP, BSN
Abstract
Abstract
Purpose
Title of the Project: Improving Social Drivers of Health Screening in an Inpatient Setting for SDoH Data
Purpose: This evidence-based practice project aimed to increase social drivers of health (SDoH) screening compliance by redesigning the workflow to distribute responsibility between nursing and case management, ultimately improving identification and referral of patients with supportive service needs.
Background: Screening for SDoH needs facilitates the provision of appropriate supportive services. The existing workflow required nurses to conduct initial screening in five domains (Housing Stability, Utility Difficulties, Food Insecurity, Interpersonal Safety, and Transportation Needs), with positive responses triggering additional investigative questions. These follow-up questions created discomfort for both patients and nurses, leading to deferred or incomplete screenings. In 2024, the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) began linking Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) reimbursement to SDoH screening compliance, further emphasizing the importance of improvement (Gallegos, A. 2024; Newsroom, 2023).
Methods: The Advancing Research and Clinical Practice through Close Collaboration (ARCC) evidence-based practice model guided implementation. Following a literature review conducted from July 2024 to January 2025, a workflow redesign was implemented that limited nursing responsibility to initial screening questions while shifting follow-up assessment to case management. Implementation occurred at a large health system in Southern California with adult inpatients. Data on screening completion rates were evaluated covering a 13-month period.
Digital USD Citation
Lussier, John P., "Improving Social Drivers of Health Screening in an Inpatient Setting for SDoH Data" (2025). Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts. 300.
https://digital.sandiego.edu/dnp/300
Copyright
Copyright held by the author
