Hospitals, health systems, and health plans have long been at the heart of the health care ecosystem. But as consumers move closer to the center, trusted organizations in the community are beginning to play a more significant role in health care. Community-based health ecosystems can extend the reach of traditional health stakeholders, help instill trust, and break down barriers to ensure that everyone can achieve their full potential in all aspects of health and well-being.
The Deloitte Center for Health Solutions recently published a report, Advancing health equity through community-based ecosystems, which explores the collective impact these multi-organization ecosystems can have on the social, economic, and environmental factors that can make health less equitable. These drivers of health (also known as social determinants of health) affect up to 80% of health outcomes. They include the physical environment, access to healthy food, infrastructure, economy, wealth, employment, education, social connections, and safety. Community-based ecosystems could help address these drivers of health by providing insight into the lived experience of the population. (author abstract)