Penn State Health to launch health equity screening tool Dec. 4
Penn State Health is set to roll out a new patient screening tool on Monday, Dec. 4, that will help gather important information about social factors that can influence a person’s health. The assessment tool will further Penn State Health’s ability to understand and act on barriers to equitable health care.
The Protocol for Responding to & Assessing Patients’ Assets, Risks & Experiences (PRAPARE) is a standardized risk assessment tool that evaluates a patient’s unique social determinants of health. These are the specific factors in a person’s environment that can impact their ability to achieve their fullest health potential.
How PRAPARE helps make health care more equitable
PRAPARE is a screening questionnaire available in 25 different languages. The questions and answers help providers better target clinical and nonclinical care to drive care transformation, improve health and reduce costs. PRAPARE is evidence-based and has facilitated change at the individual patient, organizational and community levels.
On Dec. 4, the PRAPARE tool will be available in PowerChart for all hospital and ambulatory clinical staff who use screening questionnaires during patient intake, including providers, Care Management and social workers.
Penn State Health will introduce the screening tool to other areas in the coming months. Educational materials, including eLearning and job aids, will be shared with affected staff in November, before the launch of PRAPARE.
Contact the health system’s Office for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at diversity@pennstatehealth.psu.edu or 717-531-1012 with any questions about PRAPARE or social determinants of health.
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