Social determinants of health: The whole person model of care

What challenges do high-needs patients face when seeking care? This was the question Dr. Melissa Clarke encountered as she and her colleagues worked towards a “whole person” model of care at a Washington DC addiction clinic. Lack of transportation, poverty, and other social factors hindered access to much-needed treatment for this population. Working to achieve health equity, the clinic introduced new and innovative programs that helped transform not only the patient, but also the caregiving process.