Home Research Research Library “Community vital signs”: incorporating geocoded social determinants into electronic records to promote patient and population health “Community vital signs”: incorporating geocoded social determinants into electronic records to promote patient and population health 2016 Author(s) Bazemore, Andrew W, Cottrell, Erika K, Gold, R, Hughes, Lauren S, Phillips, Robert L, Angier, Heather, Burdick, T E, Carrozza, Mark A, and DeVoe, Jennifer E Topic(s) Role of Primary Care Keyword(s) Health Information Technology (HIT), and Population Health Volume 23(2):407-412 Source Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association Social determinants of health significantly impact morbidity and mortality; however, physicians lack ready access to this information in patient care and population management. Just as traditional vital signs give providers a biometric assessment of any patient, “community vital signs” (Community VS) can provide an aggregated overview of the social and environmental factors impacting patient health. Knowing Community VS could inform clinical recommendations for individual patients, facilitate referrals to community services, and expand understanding of factors impacting treatment adherence and health outcomes. This information could also help care teams target disease prevention initiatives and other health improvement efforts for clinic panels and populations. Given the proliferation of big data, geospatial technologies, and democratization of data, the time has come to integrate Community VS into the electronic health record (EHR). Here, the authors describe (i) historical precedent for this concept, (ii) opportunities to expand upon these historical foundations, and (iii) a novel approach to EHR integration. ABFM Research Read all 2026 Sufficient and Efficient Spending on Primary Care Benefits National Health and Health Systems Go to Sufficient and Efficient Spending on Primary Care Benefits National Health and Health Systems 2016 Solo and Small Practices: A Vital, Diverse Part of Primary Care Go to Solo and Small Practices: A Vital, Diverse Part of Primary Care 2022 Barriers to care for perinatal patients with opioid use disorder: family physician perspectives Go to Barriers to care for perinatal patients with opioid use disorder: family physician perspectives 2023 Interpersonal Primary Care Continuity for Chronic Conditions Is Associated with Fewer Hospitalizations and Emergency Department Visits Among Medicaid Enrollees Go to Interpersonal Primary Care Continuity for Chronic Conditions Is Associated with Fewer Hospitalizations and Emergency Department Visits Among Medicaid Enrollees
Author(s) Bazemore, Andrew W, Cottrell, Erika K, Gold, R, Hughes, Lauren S, Phillips, Robert L, Angier, Heather, Burdick, T E, Carrozza, Mark A, and DeVoe, Jennifer E Topic(s) Role of Primary Care Keyword(s) Health Information Technology (HIT), and Population Health Volume 23(2):407-412 Source Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association
ABFM Research Read all 2026 Sufficient and Efficient Spending on Primary Care Benefits National Health and Health Systems Go to Sufficient and Efficient Spending on Primary Care Benefits National Health and Health Systems 2016 Solo and Small Practices: A Vital, Diverse Part of Primary Care Go to Solo and Small Practices: A Vital, Diverse Part of Primary Care 2022 Barriers to care for perinatal patients with opioid use disorder: family physician perspectives Go to Barriers to care for perinatal patients with opioid use disorder: family physician perspectives 2023 Interpersonal Primary Care Continuity for Chronic Conditions Is Associated with Fewer Hospitalizations and Emergency Department Visits Among Medicaid Enrollees Go to Interpersonal Primary Care Continuity for Chronic Conditions Is Associated with Fewer Hospitalizations and Emergency Department Visits Among Medicaid Enrollees
2026 Sufficient and Efficient Spending on Primary Care Benefits National Health and Health Systems Go to Sufficient and Efficient Spending on Primary Care Benefits National Health and Health Systems
2016 Solo and Small Practices: A Vital, Diverse Part of Primary Care Go to Solo and Small Practices: A Vital, Diverse Part of Primary Care
2022 Barriers to care for perinatal patients with opioid use disorder: family physician perspectives Go to Barriers to care for perinatal patients with opioid use disorder: family physician perspectives
2023 Interpersonal Primary Care Continuity for Chronic Conditions Is Associated with Fewer Hospitalizations and Emergency Department Visits Among Medicaid Enrollees Go to Interpersonal Primary Care Continuity for Chronic Conditions Is Associated with Fewer Hospitalizations and Emergency Department Visits Among Medicaid Enrollees
