in the complex and often-hectic environment of the modern
health care system there is little time to consider the
impact of social determinants of health. Health care providers
see more patients in less time and hospitals strive to meet
quality assurance measures. The challenges within the health
care system alone can consume the energies of health care
leaders leaving few resources for addressing challenges outside
of the system. The danger is that health care leaders focus
entirely on medical treatment within the confines of the health
care system, missing the opportunity to improve health more
substantially through the consideration of the larger social,
political, economic, and physical environment.