According to the World Health Organization (WHO), a growing body of research suggests that nonmedical issues, such as psychological and social factors, are intricately linked to health. In a 2011 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation survey of 1,000 primary care physicians:
- 4 out of 5 not confident they can meet social needs, hurting their ability to provide quality care
- 85% feel social needs directly contribute to poor health
- Rx for social needs, if they existed, would be 1 in 7 Rx’s written
As a result, patient’s psychosocial issues are often treated as physical concerns. The AIMS model connects the medical and social issues in order to provide the best care for patients.