Understanding individual social drivers of health is vital for improving surgical results and addressing healthcare disparities.

• Among over 297,000 patients, high-risk transportation needs notably increased 30-day readmission rates across all surgical procedures.
• For elective surgeries, these transportation challenges also correlated with higher mortality rates.

Surgeons should consider addressing these social factors during patient selection and preoperative planning.

• Financial strain was another significant concern, indicating the need for comprehensive preoperative assessments.