Changing the Conversation Around Health – 2019 MMS Annual Oration

Changing the Conversation Around Health – 2019 MMS Annual Oration is organized by Massachusetts Medical Society (MMS).

Activity Term:
Original Release Date: February 24, 2020
Termination Date: February 24, 2023

Course Overview:
Health is a product of the social and economic conditions in which we live, work, and play. Simply put, we cannot improve our health without creating a world that generates health.  While medicine, and curative care, will always have a role to play in restoring us to health when we are sick, it also has an important role to play in changing the conversation about health, in creating a healthier world.

Social determinants of health (SDOH) are a major influence on patients and their care which ultimately affects patients’ outcomes. Research has shown a patient’s health is driven by social, economic, and environmental factors. Social barriers, patient engagement, and beliefs contribute to how a patient responds to clinical information and decision-making. Clinicians should develop a broader understanding of how SDOH affects a patient’s ability to follow their care plan, take medications, opt out of testing, and follow their physician’s advice. Screening for SDOH is not inherent in a typical illness or wellness visit.

Learning Objective:
• To describe how social and economic forces influence health
• To assess the role that medicine can play in generating the conditions that create a healthier world
• To initiate and engage in a national conversation that generates health and defines the next steps