Editor's note: This is part of a series about care transformation around the globe, where we look at successful population health managers outside the United States. In this post, we highlight how organizations across Europe and Canada are popularizing the concept of social prescribing. A version of this post previously ran on The Forum.

By now, population health leaders have a good understanding of how to address the major social determinants of health—such as housing, food, and transportation. However, provider leaders and frontline staff, like community health workers, know that patients have some non-clinical needs that can't be met by traditional social service agencies. How can population health departments address patients' less-tangible non-clinical challenges, like social integration and self-fulfillment, which still significantly affect patients' lives?