Episode 112: When We All Vote

54 min listen

Exploring the Connection Between Voting and Health

The relationship between voting and health is increasingly supported by a robust body of evidence, suggesting a significant link that influences the wellbeing of individuals and communities. This episode delves into the intriguing concept of civic health and its profound impact on our lives and societies. We explore how policy decisions about green spaces, clean air, and more are not just political choices but vital health determinants.

Civic Engagement as a Healthcare Goal

Join us as we learn from nurses Jeanne Ayers RN, MPH, Lisa Schavrien RN, BSN, and Erin Ainslie Smith MS, BSN, CPST about how healthcare professionals and systems are actively pursuing civic engagement as a national and local health goal. Our discussion highlights the innovative and creative strategies these leaders are employing to integrate civic participation into healthcare, demonstrating that voting does more than shape policy—it enhances community connectivity and individual wellness.

Overcoming Barriers to Voting for Healthier Democracies

This episode also addresses the critical role of healthcare providers in removing obstacles to voting. By improving access to the polls, healthcare professionals not only enhance the health and wellbeing of their patients and colleagues but also strengthen the fabric of our democracy. We explore various approaches that make voting more accessible and discuss why active participation in elections is essential for robust public health.

About See You Now Podcast

See You Now is a podcast highlighting the innovative and human centered solutions that nurses are coming up with to solve for today’s most challenging, healthcare problems, created in collaboration with Johnson and Johnson and the American Nurses Association and hosted by nurse, economist and health tech specialist, Shawna Butler.

Resources

• Health & Democracy Index
• Healthy Democracy Healthy People
• Voting As a Social Determinant of Health: Leveraging Health Systems to Increase Access to Voting | NEJM Catalyst
• Why and How Should Public Health Promote Voting? - JPHMP Direct
• Expanding voter registration to clinical settings to improve health equity
• Healthy People 2030 | health.gov
• Civic Health Alliance
• Vot-ER
• Americans should be able to register to vote when they apply for health insurance on HealthCare.gov
• Thrive Through Civic Health: We Will Vote
• Communications Toolkit | Thrive Through Civic Health: We Will Vote.docx
• We Will Vote Voting as an Important and Actionable Social Determinant of Health A Webinar | National Academies
• Patient Voting
• Deliver the Vote - Teamwork nominee - President's Award 2019 | Northwell Health
• When These N.Y. Nurses Aren't Delivering Babies, They're Helping Deliver Patients' Ballots
• Emergency Absentee Voting for Hospitalized Patients and Voting During COVID-19: A 50-State Study - PMC
• Nurses Lisa Schavrien and Erin Smith created a program to help Lenox Hill Hospital patients vote.
• County Health Rankings and Roadmaps
• Social vulnerability, health outcomes and the American Nations