Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) According to a recent community health needs assessment report published by Brookwood Baptist Health, access to care is one social determinant of health (SDOH) for low-income individuals. Most uninsured people state that the main reason they do not have insurance is cost. Many do not have access to coverage through a job, and some people, particularly poor adults in states that did not expand Medicaid, remain ineligible for financial assistance for coverage (Brookwood Baptist Health, 2020). Those without insurance tend to have worse access to care than those who are insured. One in five uninsured adults in 2018 went without needed medical care due to costs (Brookwood Baptist Health, 2020). Furthermore, studies have shown that those without insurance are less likely to receive preventative care and services for major health conditions and chronic diseases than those who are insured. B1. Explanation of SDOH Impact on Subpopulation The leading cause of death in the state of Alabama is heart disease (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2022). In 2017 Alabama was ranked fourth in the nation due to 13,110 heart disease deaths in that year. Environmental and behavioral factors that contribute to heart disease are high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, being overweight or obese, eating a diet high in saturated and trans-fat, smoking, and living a sedentary lifestyle. Food deserts are controversial community health concern. Many believe that the term “desert” incorrectly implies that a lack of affordable and healthy food is naturally occurring, and a better term to describe the subject is food apartheid, which also includes the discrimination of communities of color regarding economic opportunity and access (Bailey, 2022). Close to two million residents in Alabama live in a food desert. Almost 150,000 of them live in Birmingham and accounts for 69% of the total population of the city. In 2019 it was discovered that there is at least one area in each of the nine Birmingham City Council Districts that are food deserts. Most residents I have encountered through my field experience struggle to find transportation. They are unable to make to and from doctor visits, go to the grocery store, or visit family. While there is public transportation, many must walk a distance to the bus stops and there is no covered waiting area. Most residents in poor health are unable to walk any distance to these stops, nor are they able to wait in the elements for the buses. Most request to be place in the hospital for continuous care because they are unable to care for themselves at home or make it back to weekly appointments. This results in most patients seeking care in the emergency department and being admitted to the hospital for care