America's Essential Hospitals
is gathering resources and promising practices to support essential hospitals and their partners in advancing population health.
This site provides a resource for hospitals on the journey to community-integrated health care and working to combat structural racism. Learn more about how our hospitals address social and economic factors that influence health and quality of life, take a virtual tour of population health and antiracist programs nationwide, and share a program of your own! Check back often—we continue to add new programs and resources.
Find Innovative Programs
Learn from essential hospitals around the country with this interactive map
Explore the Resource Library
Browse a full library of population health resources
Download the Milestones
The Milestones for Community-Integrated Health Care at Essential Hospitals document identifies activities in which essential hospitals can engage as they begin to work outside their walls.
Structural Racism
The deep racial and ethnic inequities that exist today are a direct result of structural racism: the historical and contemporary policies, practices, and norms that create and reinforce ways to perpetuate racial group inequity. Structural racism is a social determinant of health, as well as a root cause of many other social determinants of health. Combating this issue can improve the lives of all.
Explore the Resource Library for Structural Racism Resources »Social Determinants of Health
Studies show clinical care is only a small factor in the overall influences of health. Other factors, or social determinants, play a much larger role in health outcomes, quality-of-life, and life expectancy.
These social determinants of health encompass the conditions in which we are born, grow, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age. Every piece of our lives has some impact on our health, from healthy diet and exercise to safe streets and community parks. By intervening in these “upstream” areas, “downstream” health outcomes can be significantly affected.
Use the icons to the right to learn more.
Housing Instability
Having difficulty paying rent, spending more than 50% of household income on housing, having frequent moves, living in overcrowded conditions, or doubling up with friends and relatives.
BACK TO DESCRIPTION OF ALL SOCIAL DETERMINANTS »Food Insecurity
The state of being without reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food.
BACK TO DESCRIPTION OF ALL SOCIAL DETERMINANTS »Transportation
The availability of affordable and reliable modes of travel which impact an individual's ability to access well-coordinated health care, purchase nutritious food, and otherwise care for oneself.
BACK TO DESCRIPTION OF ALL SOCIAL DETERMINANTS »Utility Needs
An individual's ability to pay utility bills and/or afford necessary maintenance or repairs.
BACK TO DESCRIPTION OF ALL SOCIAL DETERMINANTS »Education
An individual's access to and completion of various levels of academic training, including early learning, primary, secondary, and post-secondary courses.
BACK TO DESCRIPTION OF ALL SOCIAL DETERMINANTS »Employment and Income
An individual's ability to acquire and maintain employment, as well as general income and ability to meet daily needs.
BACK TO DESCRIPTION OF ALL SOCIAL DETERMINANTS »Interpersonal Violence
The intentional use of physical force or power, threatened or actual, against another person or against a group or community that results in or has a high likelihood of resulting in injury, death, psychological harm, maldevelopment, or deprivation.
BACK TO DESCRIPTION OF ALL SOCIAL DETERMINANTS »Health Behaviors
Any activity undertaken which impacts the prevention or detection of disease or the general health and well-being of an individual.
BACK TO DESCRIPTION OF ALL SOCIAL DETERMINANTS »Health Literacy
The degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions.
BACK TO DESCRIPTION OF ALL SOCIAL DETERMINANTS »Community Infrastructure
The basic physical and organizational structures and facilities of a community, such as roads, sidewalks, parks, water supplies, sewerage, telecommunication, and energy.
BACK TO DESCRIPTION OF ALL SOCIAL DETERMINANTS »Legal Needs
Social, financial or environmental issues that require help from a legal professional. These issues may include (but are not limited to) employment discrimination, securing public benefits, housing disputes, restraining orders for domestic violence, and assistance with asylum applications.
BACK TO DESCRIPTION OF ALL SOCIAL DETERMINANTS »Structural Racism
The historical and contemporary policies, practices, and norms that create and reinforce ways to perpetuate racial group inequity both in and outside the hospital walls.
BACK TO DESCRIPTION OF ALL SOCIAL DETERMINANTS »Climate Vulnerability
The degree to which people or communities are at risk of experiencing the negative effects of air pollutants; extreme weather events; long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns; and illnesses transmitted by food, water, and insects.
BACK TO DESCRIPTION OF ALL SOCIAL DETERMINANTS »
Social Needs Screening