Calls to embed social determinants of health in software

Australia’s medical software systems must be changed to embed social determinants of health from a GPs’ first contact with their patient, says one GP expert.
 
Dr Kuljit Singh, who is also chair of the RACGP Specific Interests Social Prescribing,  is calling for systems to be updated to include information on a patient’s loneliness, financial, housing and transport security, safety at home, and family and relationship supports.
 
She says this must be done from initial patient registration and throughout ongoing care.
 
Her call comes on Social Prescribing Day, with the RACGP advocating for social prescribing to be recognised as an essential part of modern healthcare.
 
Dr Singh said the day highlights the ‘urgent need’ to address social connection as a core determinant of health. 
 
‘GPs don’t just treat disease, we care for people within the context of their lives,’ she said.
 
‘Social prescribing is not a “nice to have”, it is a must have if we are to curb the rise of chronic physical, mental and social illness affecting Australians and our communities.’
 
Dr Singh says tackling loneliness must start with software systematically identifying and addressing social determinants of health, which account for up to 55% of health outcomes. 
 
She says that validated tools such as the UCLA Loneliness Scale could be integrated into everyday practice workflows, enabling GPs to better understand patients’ lived circumstances.
 
‘General practice can’t respond to unmet social need if we don’t routinely identify it,’ Dr Singh said. 
 
‘Global momentum reinforces what GPs already know – health is physical, mental and social.
 
‘To deliver truly comprehensive care, we must address all three.’
 
Loneliness and social isolation currently affect one third of all Australian adults, with their health impact shown to be worse than smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
 
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medical software mental health care social prescribing