112: When We All Vote
Voting and health. It’s a pairing with a growing body of evidence (and even its very own Index!) supporting the links between this powerful duo and how they impact and amplify one another and dramatically shape the health of individuals, communities and democracies. From green spaces to clean air, policy decisions impact our health and wellbeing just as much – and often more – than any individual health decision we make. When communities vote, they impact those policies.
Research indicates that voting may actually help us feel better and more connected to our communities. In this episode we take a closer look at civic health and learn from nurses Jeanne Ayers RN, MPH, Lisa Schavrien RN, BSN and Erin Ainslie Smith MS, BSN, CPST how healthcare professionals and systems are making and achieving civic engagement a national and local health goal; and the creative and innovative approaches to removing barriers to voting that improve the health and wellbeing of patients, colleagues, communities — and democracy itself.