The Social Care for All Needs Medical Education (SCAN ME) Academy is a module series designed to be an educational resource that engages learners to ensure that the future physician workforce is prepared to consider social determinants of health and health-related social needs and the impact that they have on patients’ health and health outcomes. The goal of these modules is to increase the participation of medical students and residents in addressing these issues and to further educate them on the importance of considering health-related social needs in the context of health care delivery.
Please click on the links below to access each module.
Module 1 covers definitions of health-related social needs (HRSNs) and social determinants of health (SDH) and how health-related social needs impact health. This module also summarizes key policy initiatives that drive health care providers to address health-related social needs.
Module 2 defines housing instability, how housing instability impacts health and health care access, and how providers can identify housing instability during a medical encounter.
Module 3 explains the difference between food insecurity and nutrition insecurity, and how they impact health and health care access. This module also explains how to recognize these health-related social needs during a medical encounter and offers examples of how providers can assist a patient with these needs.
Module 4 discusses transportation insecurity and how it impacts health and health care access. It also outlines how transportation insecurity can be recognized during an encounter with a patient, and specific ways providers can address this issue among those they serve.
Module 5 summarizes health care organizations’ role in addressing health-related social needs, and the care team members who might aid in the screening, referral, and follow-up processes in addressing these needs. This module also explains community-based organizations (CBOs) and what their role is in addressing health-related social needs, and the different ways CBOs can be identified to work with patients in addressing these needs.
Module 6 highlights the role a physician plays in addressing health-related social needs, what should be done after screening information has been gathered, and the main principles important to consider when trying to have an informative discussion with a patient on this topic.