Understanding social reasons for poor health helps to fix inequality

How do you fix health inequity in the United States? The education and health-care communities as well as policymakers must consider what are known as the social determinants of health as an integral part of solving this dilemma. Additionally, communities need to stop thinking of health care as care only received in a medical environment such as a hospital or clinic. Instead we must consider health-care holistically as a service given in our homes, our schools, our workplaces, our parks and our communities. These services are provided by an array of health-care providers, including nurses, physicians, psychologists, dentists, social workers and many more — over 13 million strong.