Social Medicine at UHN

At UHN, the top 100 patients with no fixed address accounted for over 4,000 Emergency Department (ED) visits, or 5.0% of all ED visits in one year. Globally, evidence is mounting that addressing clinical symptoms alone will not meaningfully improve individual health outcomes or alleviate pressure on the health care system.

As part of Canada’s #1 hospital, UHN’s Gattuso Centre for Social Medicine is changing the way we think about health care delivery by ensuring social medicine is woven into our health care system. The Social Medicine Care Model looks at health holistically by assessing physical, mental and social needs to treat our most complex patients. UHN’s multidisciplinary team has partnered with community organizations to ensure people with lived experience of homelessness, mental health challenges and substance use are integrated throughout the entire care journey from UHN back into home communities.

We need your help to remove barriers for Canada’s most vulnerable patients and design a more equitable and efficient health care system for everyone.