Social Determinants of Health

[FM FTW]

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I was thinking about the opportunities to do electives in the US or potentially even apply for residency when I'm done. How extensively do schools cover social determinants of health? Of course it differs by school, but maybe we could get some personal anecdotes and suggestions of where a lot of socialized medicine is practiced in certain areas (e.g. predominantly African-American or Latino communities).

And how important do you think this stuff is for medicine? I'm a big advocate and even in Canada where healthcare is universal, I get a lot of heat from my peers about being more concerned with social factors than clinical.

 

[cbrons]

How about you focus on physiology, clinical exam, critical thinking... you know, things that doctors do. Or is medical school in the New America more about sociology?

 

[general0409]

My school covers social determinants of health very heavily. It's understanding a huge problem because there is a constant disparity, but by the time they get to the doctor it is usually too late. Minimizing health disparities requires big picture systematic improvements, but if you want to just keep your blinders on like @cbrons, be my guest.

 

[The Knife & Gun Club]

This would be more the realm of getting an MPH, no?

 

[cbrons]

My school covers social determinants of health very heavily. It's understanding a huge problem because there is a constant disparity, but by the time they get to the doctor it is usually too late. Minimizing health disparities requires big picture systematic improvements, but if you want to just keep your blinders on like @cbrons, be my guest.

"Big picture systematic improvements"... lemme know how useful that knowledge is for your crashing patient on July 1

 

[general0409]

"Big picture systematic improvements"... lemme know how useful that knowledge is for your crashing patient on July 1

Social determinants of health are in addition to, not instead of, clinical knowledge. What good is your treatment plan if the patient is unable to follow it?

 

[WingedOx]

Social determinants of health are in addition to, not instead of, clinical knowledge. What good is your treatment plan if the patient is unable to follow it?

Seriously. Those bitching the loudest about having to learn things like this are the ones who are most likely to complain when all their outcomes are ****ty from patient nonadherence.

 

[WingedOx]

"Big picture systematic improvements"... lemme know how useful that knowledge is for your crashing patient on July 1

I glad to see your impression of how medicine works is from an NBC medical drama.

 

[general0409]

@cbrons

 

[FM FTW]

Social determinants of health are in addition to, not instead of, clinical knowledge. What good is your treatment plan if the patient is unable to follow it?

THANK YOU!