August 2, 2023 – Vizient announced it is granting public access to the patent pending Vizient Vulnerability Index™. The access comes at no cost and provides a unique level of visibility for healthcare organizations to assess social determinants of health that impact health equity in the communities they serve. It is now available to anyone. Access the Vizient Vulnerability Index.
The Vizient Vulnerability Index aggregates 43 social determinants of health data points into nine categories at the local, regional and national levels that impact health outcomes. Each category of data quantifies how specific vulnerabilities impact specific populations. The public view provides zip code and Census tract-level information across these categories: Economic, education, healthcare access, neighborhood conditions, housing, clean environment, social environment, transportation and public safety.
The Vizient Vulnerability Index aggregates the following public data sources:
- American Community Survey 2020 (US Census) 5-year estimates survey data
- USDA “food desert” measure of low-income population beyond a half mile (urban) or one mile (rural) from a grocery store
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) data on air and water pollution
- The Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) “severe housing cost” measure of housing cost burden over 50% of income