The findings by Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (2012), after conducting a study stated that most doctors, over 85% of the sample, indicated that it is crucial for doctors to be able not only the medical aspects of a patient but also the social needs. It was the wish of the doctors that to fully treat the patient, they are able the social requirements of the patient. Doctors felt the need to be in a position to eliminate social challenges that affect their patients, some of the factors include proper transportation, proper nutrition, and house assistance. The doctors felt they should be able to offer social prescriptions just the same way they offer medical prescriptions. The doctors felt they need the ability to be able to connect the patients with these resources (Ardishanson, 2012).
The survey was instrumental in providing information that doctors need the power to address the social needs of the patients but this is not possible as the current health care system is not in a capacity to offer this. Food, housing, and proper heat are some important basic social needs that have a direct effect on the true healing of a patient. Just like drugs for an illness, these social needs play the same role. Many primary care physicians are not well trained to address the social needs of their patients.
Many physicians have no time to address the social needs of the patients. An example of a challenge is an asthma infection in children. The problem will return due to the poor living conditions in their house. This may be caused by the growth of molds in their house or the presence of insecticides that have been sprayed in the surrounding. Doctors need to sensitize policymakers in the community on the need of addressing the social needs of the patient (Downie, 2012). There is a need for changes in the health care system in the United States; this will enable health care to address the costs necessary to connect the patient with the responsible provider of the social service.
References
Ardishanson (2012). Webinar> Health Care’s Blind Side” Webinar— Integrating Patients’ Social Needs Into Health Care Delivery. CBSCLOOP. Web.
Downie, C. (2012). Register for “Health Care’s Blind Side” Webinar with Rebecca Onie. Health Leads. Web.
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (2012). Webinar: How Can We Address Health Care’s Blind Side? New Public Health. Web.