Which factor best describes a social determinant of health that can hinder care coordination?

Which factor best describes a social determinant of health that can hinder care coordination?

• A. Age alone determines care coordination needs.
• B. Quality of care is only determined by provider skill.
• C. Genetic predisposition to disease.
• D. Transportation barriers, housing instability, or food insecurity that affect access to care and adherence.

Answer: (D)

Care coordination is shaped by factors outside medical care that affect a patient’s ability to access services and follow through with plans. Transportation barriers, housing instability, or food insecurity directly impact whether a patient can attend visits, obtain medications, and adhere to follow-up, which makes coordinating care across providers and settings much more difficult. These social conditions create gaps in communication and continuity of care that the care team must address to keep treatment effective. In contrast, age alone doesn’t dictate coordination needs, provider skill affects quality of care, and genetics is a biological factor—none of these capture the real-world access and adherence barriers that hinder coordinating care across the system.

Care coordination is shaped by factors outside medical care that affect a patient’s ability to access services and follow through with plans. Transportation barriers, housing instability, or food insecurity directly impact whether a patient can attend visits, obtain medications, and adhere to follow-up, which makes coordinating care across providers and settings much more difficult. These social conditions create gaps in communication and continuity of care that the care team must address to keep treatment effective. In contrast, age alone doesn’t dictate coordination needs, provider skill affects quality of care, and genetics is a biological factor—none of these capture the real-world access and adherence barriers that hinder coordinating care across the system.