How Do Family Physicians Document Patients' Social Needs in Electronic Health Records?

Social needs are critical determinants of patient health, but their capture in clinical records began recently. A representative survey of family physicians showed that 61% of respondents document social needs using notes, with fewer using diagnosis codes or electronic forms. This preference for unstruc-tured documentation may make it difficult to connect patients across organizations or for policymakers and planners to identify geographic variation in needs. ( J Am Board Fam Med 2023;36:510-512.)

Automated summary

Social needs are crucial for patient health, but they have only recently been incorporated into clinical records. A survey of family physicians found that 61% document social needs using notes, while fewer use diagnosis codes or electronic forms. This preference for unstructured documentation may hinder connections between patients across different organizations and impede identification of geographic variation in needs.