At Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), we believe that understanding our patients goes far beyond their medical symptoms. That’s why we introduced the Social Vulnerability Assessment (SVA) in our Advanced HIV project in Patna, Bihar, in April 2023, a powerful tool that helps us see the whole picture of a patient’s life, challenges and needs.
What Exactly is SVA?
Imagine knowing not just a patient’s illness, but also their living conditions, social struggles and the hurdles they face just to reach us. That’s what SVA does. It’s a detailed questionnaire and assessment process that gathers vital information about:
- Who the patient is (age, family, income)
- Where they live and how they get to the clinic
- Their medical history and current health status
- Any social stigma or discrimination they face
- Whether they have access to social welfare programs
How Does MSF Collect This Information?
Within 24 hours of admission, our trained counsellors sit down with each patient for a one-on-one conversation. This isn’t just paperwork — it’s a chance to listen and understand. The data collected is carefully entered into a system that assigns a vulnerability rating, helping us identify which patients and areas need the most support.
Turning Data into Action: The Social Vulnerability Report
From this detailed data, we create a concise two-pager SVA report — just one or two pages — that summarises everything we need to know about a patient’s social and medical situation. This report is a game-changer. Doctors, mental health teams, social workers and other healthcare providers can use it to quickly understand a patient’s needs without having to start from scratch.
Why Does SVA Matter for MSF and Our Patients?
SVA transforms how we care for patients in several important ways:
- Personalised care plans: Based on the assessment, we develop tailored action plans for each patient. For example, if a patient needs help enrolling in a social welfare scheme or requires follow-up tests, we make sure these happen before discharge.
- Better follow-up: We track patients’ progress, ensuring they continue to receive medication, testing or social support after leaving the hospital.
- Timely referrals and home visits: SVA helps us spot patients who need extra attention, like home visits or referrals to other facilities, so they don’t fall through the cracks.
- Saving lives: By focusing on what makes patients vulnerable, we can reduce mortality and improve overall health outcomes.
- Teamwork across departments: The SVA report connects all parts of our team — from doctors to counsellors — so everyone is on the same page.
Real Stories, Real Impact
With SVA, we’ve seen remarkable improvements. For instance, identifying patients who need home visits was once a challenge, but now it’s routine. Our referral process is smoother, ensuring patients get diagnosed and treated promptly. Plus, when patients move to other hospitals, we send their SVA reports along, so new doctors understand their full story.
The Social Vulnerability Assessment is more than just a tool — it’s a bridge to better, more compassionate care. By understanding the social and economic realities of our patients, MSF can offer care that truly meets their needs. SVA helps us listen better, act smarter and ultimately save more lives.
