As EMS agencies continue to expand their community footprint through various programs, now is the time to research and understand the Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) and how these distinct variables impact our patients and our systems. With areas such as understanding and impacting health outcomes, improving access to services and reducing emergency department use, recognizing and utilizing SDOH effectively in the prehospital environment can be the next big step in unlocking how EMS can be utilized more effectively in the community. EMS providers regularly engage with patients who have complex health and social service needs, including people with precarious housing and employment status and those with chronic addiction and mental health conditions. As mobile healthcare professionals who spend one-on-one time with patients, EMS providers are uniquely positioned to understand and address the social factors that contribute to patients' health. In this presentation, join Ray Barishansky, an experienced EMS professional with clinical, managerial and executive leadership experience as he will review what you need to know about the Social Determinants of Health.