The Role of Social Determinants of Health in the Delivery of Value-Based Care in Total Joint Arthroplasty.

Health care delivery systems throughout the United States have transitioned to a value-based care model, shifting away from a fee-for-service model to instead emphasize patient health outcomes and the quality of medical care. Social determinants of health (SDOH) have been shown to have a large impact on patient health outcomes and thus, must play an integral role in the implementation of a value-based model. This is of particular interest in the field of lower extremity joint arthroplasty, where demand is rising in conjunction with expanded access to care. This article intends to address the following: (1) provide background on SDOH in the setting of value-based arthroplasty care; (2) explore the impact of SDOH on patient outcomes and costs following total joint arthroplasty; and (3) provide strategies for recognizing and addressing SDOH in practice.