Gundersen Health System has been strongly dedicated to addressing the Social Determinants of Health, firmly knowing a patient’s health can be influenced by their access to health care, lifestyle choices and their access to other basic needs such as housing, food and employment. 

Gundersen gives patients the option to fill out a Social Determinants of Health questionnaire. The patient may indicate they would like to be contacted if a need is revealed. The Gundersen Community Resource Connectors will then connect the patient with services such as CommunityLink and document the information in EPIC so the provider is aware. The initiative has also revealed concerns over toxic stress in a patient's life, which is one of the top health factors commonly reported in the questionnaire. Revealing this allows the patient and provider to discuss ways to approach toxic stress, including talk therapy or social services.