Social determinants of health (SDOH) can include everything from access to nutritious food and safe housing to air quality and literacy skills. They affect nearly every person but play an ever-critical role in how successfully an injured worker is able to recover and, potentially, return to work.
“Social determinants of health are a major contributor to widespread health disparities and inequalities,” said Lisa Haug, Assistant Vice President – Medical Management. “We are finding that access to healthcare for injured workers greatly impacts their recovery. Oftentimes, injured workers live in rural areas, and the access to healthcare in those areas is very challenging, which can delay their recovery time.”