title: Taking social determinants of health seriously: a health services perspective.
abstract: This article seeks to outline why health systems and health services should play a more active role in addressing the social determinants of population health. Working from the premise that the supposed conflict between efficiency and equity is a bogus one and citing the example of potentially avoidable hospitalizations, the article suggests that there are pragmatic reasons for health services to engage in interventions that are informed by social determinants and health equity orientation.
authors.affiliation: Canadian Healthcare Association, 17 York Street, Ottawa, ON K1N 9J6, Canada. kdenny@cha.ca
authors.forename: Keith
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Denny
mesh_terms: D002170:Canada; D006291:Health Policy; D006292:Health Priorities; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006302:Health Services Research; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D054625:Healthcare Disparities; D006801:Humans; D011634:Public Health; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors