VCU Massey Cancer Center

Virginia Commonwealth University Health System, VCU Massey Cancer Center
Richmond, VA

Addressing Social Determinants of Health through a Medical-Legal Partnership

Allison L. Held, JD, Associate General Counsel & Director, Medical-Legal Partnership at VCU Health System,
Virginia Commonwealth University Health System, VCU Massey Cancer Center

This collaboration of legal and healthcare professionals helps patients with cancer resolve social and environmental factors that contribute to health disparities and have a remedy in civil law. Through this program, the cancer center partners with a non-profit, which connects low-income cancer patients to pro bono legal services, as well as financial counseling and community resources. Learn how embedding lawyers in a healthcare setting can directly resolve specific problems for individual patients; help clinical and non-clinical staff navigate system and policy barriers; and transform institutional practices. More than 90% of patients using this program report that this assistance allowed them to focus more time and energy on their health.