SONNET reports on social risk and utilization
The link between acute utilization and 3 specific social risks: financial strain, food insecurity, and housing instability
April 2024
This new SONNET report summarizes findings that used data from Kaiser Permanente's National Social Health Surveys in 2020 and 2022 to assess how 3 specific social risks — financial strain, food insecurity, and housing instability — are related to emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalizations among members nationwide. Key findings include:
- Compared to members with no social risks, those with any of these 3 risks were 21% more likely to have an ED visit.
- These 3 social risks were not significantly linked to higher likelihood of hospitalization.
Project lead: Morgan Clennin, PhD, MPH, investigator at KP Colorado Institute for Health Research.
Social needs and health care utilization among older adults
July 2023
Looking at data from KP’s Medicare Total Health Assessment survey, this project found that having more social needs was linked to higher emergency department (ED) utilization and hospital admissions among older adult members of KP Northwest. For example, members with 2 social needs were 98% more likely to have an ED visit and 65% more likely to have 1 or more hospital admissions.
Project lead: David Mosen, PhD, MPH, senior affiliate investigator at KP Northwest Center for Health Research.
Social needs and health care utilization in a national sample of Kaiser Permanente members
November 2022
This SONNET project took a deep dive into data from Kaiser Permanente's 2020 National Social Health Survey, finding that emergency room visits were 33% more likely among members with any social risk and 51% more likely among members with any severe social risk.
Project lead: Morgan Clennin, PhD, MPH, investigator at KP Colorado Institute for Health Research.
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Other SONNET reports
Kaiser Permanente 2022 National Social Health Survey
SONNET is excited to share 3 reports that summarize quantitative and qualitative findings from our second social health survey among a representative group of Kaiser Permanente members nationwide. Project lead: Meagan Brown, PhD.
Social risks and racial differences in chronic illness outcomes
This SONNET project took a deep dive into data from KP's 2020 National Social Health Survey, finding that Black members had a higher prevalence of type 2 diabetes and hypertension compared to white members. Project leads: Jennifer Gander, PhD, and Suma Vupputuri, PhD, MPH.
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