Creation of a Surgical Outcomes Dashboard Incorporating Social Determinants of Health: A Novel QI Tool to Promote Health Equity

Rachel Ekaireb Rachel Chan, Yasamin Taghikhan, Ankit Sarin and Sean Flynn

Department of Surgery, University of California Davis, USA Department of Surgery, Swedish Medical Center, USA Division of Colorectal Surgery, University of California Davis, USA

^*Correspondance to: Rachel Ekaireb 

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Abstract:

Background: Social determinants of health (SDOH), described by the World Health Organization as "non-medical factors that influence health outcomes," are becoming widely acknowledged for their impact on surgical outcomes. Incorporating SDOH into interactive clinical dashboards is an emerging trend, though no SDOH dashboard specific to surgical outcomes has been described. We present the development of a novel clinical dashboard focused on SDOH and surgical outcomes, highlighting its utility in identifying disparities at a quaternary-care academic hospital. Methods: The dashboard was created by integrating data from the electronic health record (EHR) via Caboodle into a Tableau-based dashboard. The dashboard was deployed in February 2024 and is updated bimonthly. Data collected includes demographics, SDOH variables, and surgical outcomes. Statistical analysis was used to query relationships between these variables. SDOH was measured using the California Healthy Places Index (HPI), a tool that creates a composite score from population-based data within a region. Results: The SDOH dashboard displays outcome measures over time and features interactive tabs. Patients in lower HPI quartiles were more likely to be non-white, have a primary language other than English, and have non-commercial insurance. There was no significant difference in LOS or PSI across HPI quartiles, but readmission rates were found to be significantly higher in the 2nd quartile. Conclusion: While the SDOH Dashboard cannot determine the reasons for disparities, it is a unique interactive tool that can act as a starting point for exploring underlying causes and as a tool for assessing hypothesis-driven surgical outcomes research.

Keywords:

Clinical dashboard, Social determinants, Surgical outcomes

Cite the Article:

Ekaireb R, Chan R, Taghikhan Y, Sarin A, Flynn S. Creation of a Surgical Outcomes Dashboard Incorporating Social Determinants of Health: A Novel QI Tool to Promote Health Equity. World J Surg Surgical Res. 2025; 8: 1597..