Closing Health Gaps through Collaborative Action
Foreword and Introduction
- Objective: To address health inequities and improve overall health outcomes.
- Statistics:
- Global life expectancy rose from 46.5 years in 1950 to 71.7 years in 2022.
- Significant disparities exist within and between countries.
- Example: Nigeria’s life expectancy is 30 years lower than Japan’s.
- In Boston, life expectancy varies by nearly 25 years between neighboring neighborhoods.
Executive Summary
- Health Disparities: Despite increased life expectancy, significant differences in health outcomes exist.
- Health Equity: The pursuit of eliminating these disparities to provide fair opportunities for health and well-being.
- Root Causes: Systemic racism, biases, structural flaws in health systems, and inequities in non-medical drivers of health.
- Place-Based Change: Collaborative, community-led, and long-term efforts in a specific geographic location.
- Key Principles:
- Community Ownership and Empowerment: Local organizations and individuals design, implement, and maintain strategies.
- Purposeful and Lasting Partnerships: Diverse collaborations across sectors.
- Rigorous Analytical Approach: Utilize local and reliable data to identify key factors.
- Sustainable Operating Model: Strong operational backbone for lasting transformation.
Understanding Place-Based Change
- Importance of Place: Unique social, economic, and environmental factors influencing health.
- Non-Medical Drivers: Employment, healthy food, climate, etc.
- Root Causes: Systemic racism, biases, structural flaws in health systems, and inequities in drivers of health.
- Community: Group of people sharing common interests, concerns, or identities in a physical location.
- Place-Based Approaches: Collaborative, community-led, and long-term efforts to build healthy, thriving communities.
Key Principles for Effective Place-Based Change
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Community Ownership and Empowerment
- Local organizations and individuals lead the design, implementation, and maintenance of strategies.
- Supported by a network of engaged collaborators.
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Purposeful and Lasting Partnerships
- Collaboration across public and private sectors, academia, and civil society.
- Leveraging diverse expertise, perspectives, and networks.
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Rigorous Analytical Approach
- Use of local and reliable data to identify critical factors.
- Focused on maximizing health and closing outcome gaps.
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Sustainable Operating and Governance Model
- Strong operational backbone for positive and lasting transformation.
- Integrated approach across healthcare, social, economic, and environmental realms.
Conclusion
- Collective Responsibility: Recognizing the impact of place on health outcomes.
- Role of Organizations: Helping employees achieve optimal health, advancing healthy products and services, and leveraging ecosystem power.
- Potential: Creating healthier and more resilient communities through place-based approaches.
By embracing these principles, organizations can effectively address health disparities and promote equitable health outcomes.