Building a Path to Recovery: Implementation of a Student-Led Trauma Recovery Program Addressing Social Drivers of Health.

INTRODUCTION

Patients who experience traumatic injury are at increased risk of poor physical and psychological outcomes. Social drivers of health, including financial toxicity, food insecurity, limited social support, and lack of insurance, may increase this risk. This feasibility and implementation pilot study evaluates an intervention that partners patients with medical student care advocates and community resource navigation to improve recovery following trauma.

METHODS

Three iterations of the R.I.S.E. Trauma Recovery Program were implemented between 2023 and 2026. Adult trauma patients with social drivers of health and met injury-type criteria were eligible. After enrollment, patients were paired with two trained medical student care advocates who provided longitudinal follow-up and addressed identified needs. A comprehensive analysis after each cycle informed iterative refinements for the subsequent iteration.

RESULTS

Of enrolled patients, 62% received support and interventions from their care advocates. Most enrolled patients had Medicare or Medicaid insurance (70%). All patients who completed the program "strongly agreed" that it positively impacted their mental and physical recovery and that they would recommend it to others. Most reported being "extremely satisfied" with grocery deliveries, medical counseling, and social support.

CONCLUSIONS

Program evaluation demonstrated that sustained staffing and funding are critical to meeting patient needs and optimizing multidisciplinary collaboration. This pilot demonstrates the feasibility and acceptability of a student-led care advocate model designed to address social drivers of health during trauma recovery. Although effectiveness outcomes cannot be established from this nonrandomized implementation study, the findings support further evaluation of structured post discharge support programs in trauma populations.