The Michigan Oncology Quality Consortium, Patient Advocate Foundation’s (PAF) Patient Insight Institute (PII), and Gilead Sciences, Inc. are partnering to develop a new screening protocol for social determinants/drivers of health (SDOH) within oncology practices across Michigan. With this project, we hope to improve health outcomes by integrating patient and caregiver perspectives to create a new standard of care.
The project, which has received funding for its first year, will focus on small- to medium-sized practices serving low-income populations with high social needs. MOQC will visit those practices to identify current SDOH screening tools, processes, and gaps.
We will then focus on analyzing those data and creating a screening tool that better identifies social needs and connects patients and caregivers to the right resources, leading to improved treatment adherence and overall health. This collaboration will help create a blueprint for patient-centered SDOH screening that can be adapted across practices in Michigan and beyond. A special thanks to our POQC financial navigation work group for the invaluable contributions and commitment to this important initiative. Their dedication is instrumental in driving meaningful change and enhancing the well-being of our communities.