Evaluating the Effectiveness of a Multi-level Health-Related Social Needs Initiative

The goal of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a multi-level health-related social needs (HRSN) initiative among adult patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, plus hypertension or hyperlipidemia. The multi-level initiative includes HRSN data collection, training and tools for health care professionals, care coordinator support, and community resources. Patients with type 2 diabetes plus hypertension or hyperlipidemia will be screened for HRSN as part of the primary care clinic intake process to assess if patients have any social needs (like difficulty with getting food, housing, or transportation). If patients screen positive for having social needs, then patients will be offered support, which can include help from primary care providers with adjusting a patient's disease management plan, referrals to care coordinators to provide additional assistance in addressing social needs, and information about community organizations that offer resources for social needs. The initiative will be integrated as a system change across VUMC adult primary care practices.

The investigators will use a prospective, single-arm clinical trial to evaluate effects on clinical outcomes for 12 months. Data will be extracted from the EHR on adult patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, and either hypertension or hyperlipidemia. The investigators hypothesize that the initiative will reduce the impact of HRSN on clinical outcomes over the study period. The investigators will also administer surveys to a subgroup of patients to examine trends in self-reported psychosocial and behavioral measures over the course of the initiative.