Traditionally, hospitals are thought of as places people go for medical care. But could one imagine a world where hospitals reached out to people in their communities to address the deeply rooted social and environmental factors impacting health? While not widespread, this phenomenon is already in play at some hospitals in New York State and across the country.
Guided by growing evidence that most of one’s health can be attributed to non-medical determinants such as social, behavioral, and environmental factors, some hospitals are taking a broad population health stance. They are defining their target population to include not only their patients but also everyone in their geographic communities, and broadening their scope of action to include impacting non-medical determinants of health.
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