As we begin to see the release of COVID vaccines on the horizon in the United States, it is even more essential to collect robust data on patients’ social needs. This information is critical to providers’ efforts to empower communities and ensure their access to clinical services—and especially to vaccines in the coming year. 

With the recent uptake of technologies and solutions, leveraging data—along with data that include patient self-reported sources—can help health care stakeholders assemble a clear picture of how to improve patient care. Meaningful data use falls into three components: intent, action and enablement. Let’s explore a few use cases, and some opportunities that support accurate monitoring and closing care gaps, which can result in improved care quality and performance while advancing, scaling and advancing efficient care delivery.