Data-driven methods to identify social determinants of health
Funded at Ralph H Johnson VA Medical Center · NIH-11473517 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A data-driven approach to find and document patients’ social factors in veterans’ care to help tailor referrals and improve health outcomes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ralph H Johnson VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Charleston, United States) |
| Project start | October 1, 2021 |
| Project end | September 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2027 |
| NIH project number | 5I01HX003379-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11473517 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Veterans receiving care at the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center and similar VA systems.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose social determinants are not yet documented or who do not require social support referrals may see little direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project aims to use health records and information technology to identify social determinants of health in veterans seen at the VA. By analyzing data in the electronic health record, the team hopes to reveal which social factors are most linked to health outcomes and healthcare needs. The goal is to connect patients with appropriate social services and supports to improve adherence to care and disease management. The work focuses on improving care quality for diverse veteran populations through better identification of social needs.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, it could lead to more targeted referrals to social services and better health outcomes for veterans by addressing social factors in care planning.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has shown that documenting SDOH can improve care coordination, though systematic EHR-based approaches are still developing.
Where this research is happening
-
Ralph H Johnson VA Medical Center
Charleston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gebregziabher, Mulugeta Gebreselassie — Ralph H Johnson VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Gebregziabher, Mulugeta Gebreselassie
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.