Data for Better Health®
Better health is impacted by factors beyond the care a person receives from their clinician. Those factors, such as food insecurity, housing status, and transportation needs, are referred to as social determinants of health (SDOH), which significantly affect quality of life, health, and healthcare outcomes.
When SDOH data is appropriately collected, used, and securely shared, the entire healthcare team can gain insight into various elements that make up a person’s medical and non-medical story, allowing them to collaborate on improving an individual’s overall health and wellbeing.
It’s About Improving Health Outcomes
Only 20% of our health is related to access to care and quality of health care services. The remaining 80% percent is determined by societal factors — including an individual’s physical environment; socioeconomic factors like education or job status; or health behaviors such as diet and exercise.
These societal factors are often referred to as social determinants of health (SDOH) or social drivers of health.
A growing body of evidence suggests social determinants of health play a substantial role in determining health and healthcare outcomes.
The Data for Better Health initiative, powered by AHIMA®, will provide tools, resources, and education to support a better understanding of the importance of SDOH data and how it can be used to improve health and healthcare outcomes.
NEW White Paper! “Building Patient Trust in the Collection, Use, and Sharing of Social Determinants of Health Data”
Improving trust has been a core principle of the AHIMA effort, Data for Better Health®, which seeks to increase awareness of how collecting, using, and sharing SDOH data can improve individual and community health outcomes. This white paper weaves together the knowledge, research, and insights gathered by the AHIMA team since this effort launched in 2023.
About Data for Better Health
Read more about the goals of the initiative and how to receive regular updates.
Data For Better Health® 2025-2026 Impact Season
In 2024, AHIMA launched its first Data for Better Health Impact Season. We are expanding these efforts to include the health information (HI) community.
White Paper
Designing Solutions for the Future
This white paper summarizes feedback, outlines key challenges, and proposes a path to advance standardized SDOH data processes.
Advocacy Agenda
AHIMA believes that public policy around SDOH must do eight key things to improve health outcomes.
Webinar
SDOH Tech Showcase
The Data for Better Health® SDOH Tech Showcase brought together some of the brightest minds rethinking how social health data is collected, shared, and used to improve care. Now you can catch the full recording whenever you want.
Report
2025 Impact Report
Better health and improved health outcomes are impacted by factors beyond the care a person receives from their clinician. Those factors, such as food insecurity, housing status, and transportation needs, are referred to as social determinants of health (SDOH), which affect quality of life, health, and healthcare outcomes.
Additional Resources
Education & Tools
- Sharing SDOH Data to Improve Outcomes
- How Artificial Intelligence Can Enhance the Use of SDOH Data
- Sharing SDOH Data
- Using SDOH Data
- Screening For and Collecting SDOH Data
- Setting the Stage
- Using Science, Data, Trust, and Kindness to Accelerate Health Equity
- Foundations for the Collection, Sharing, and Use of SDOH Data
- UCLA Health System's Journey to Using Social Determinants of Health Data to Improve Outcomes and Health Equity
- Screening for Social Drivers of Health: Lessons from the Field
- Taking on Social Determinants of Health Data in Rural Communities
New Resources
- NEW*Data for Better Health Clinician Resource Guide
- NEW* Health Data Professional Resource Guide
- NEW* Best Practices for Validating and Documenting Social Diagnoses
- NEW* SDOH: Identifying Documentation Gaps in Workflow
Public Policy Updates
- AHIMA Comments on CY2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule
- AHIMA Comments on CY2026 Medicare OPPS Proposed Rule
- AHIMA Speaks Up for SDOH in IPPS Rule
- AHIMA Comments on CY 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule
- Federal Regulatory Requirements for Social Determinants of Health Data
- AHIMA Comments on CY2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule
Research
- AHIMA NORC Report: Survey Results on the Collection, Integration, and Use
- Social Determinants of Health: Improving Capture and Use by Applying Data Governance Strategies
- Data for Better Health Issue Brief
Engage
AHIMA Announces Launch of Data for Better Health® Initiative
The American Health Information Management Association® (AHIMA) proudly unveiled a groundbreaking initiative, Data for Better Health®, at its annual conference, AHIMA23, in Baltimore, MD.
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