EveryONE Project™ Policy Briefs Offer Fresh Engagement Tactics
March 6, 2024, Michael Devitt — The AAFP’s EveryONE ProjectTM has published new health policy issue briefs that give family physicians evidence-based recommendations they can incorporate into practice, as well as information they can use when speaking with policymakers, administrators and other stakeholders about important health equity topics.
“There are three things I love about the new issue briefs,” said Margot Savoy, M.D., M.P.H., FAAFP, the Academy’s senior vice president for education, inclusiveness and physician well-being.
“First, they are succinct. They get right to the point in helping us learn about critical topics affecting the patients and communities we serve.
“Second, they are versatile. I can use them when talking with a legislator, or with students and residents in clinic or class, to raise their awareness around key health equity issues like housing instability or food insecurity.
“Third, they are actionable. Each brief provides key recommendations grounded in evidence and best practices that my team and I can start working on today.”
Issue Briefs in Review
The issue briefs, supported by funding from Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, cover seven topics with recommendations, links to resources and more.
Food Insecurity addresses the relationship between access to food and patients' health, education and personal development, as well as federal food programs and steps family physicians can take with patients.
Gender Pay Gap in Medicine draws attention to the fact that female family physicians may earn substantially less over their careers than their male colleagues, even after accounting for various factors. The brief offers strategies for closing this gap and highlights Academy resources like the Career Benchmark Dashboard.
Health in All Policies illustrates how family physicians can use collaborative approaches to develop policies and regulations that will improve the health of patients, their families and communities.
Health Literacy explains the individual skills and complex demands that affect people’s ability to navigate the health care system and make informed decisions.
Housing Instability covers housing factors that have contributed to health disparities and the impact of advocacy on housing policies, and highlights programs that support housing.
Socioeconomic Status addresses connections between health disparities and socioeconomic status, a term that encompasses poverty, marginalization, racism and sexism.
Transportation examines the impact of transportation barriers on access to health care, and offers strategies to help, such as telemedicine and changes in infrastructure.
More Resources On the Way
Juaquan Herron, diversity and inclusion manager with the AAFP’s Center for Diversity and Health Equity, said the Academy is developing more tools to help family physicians make positive changes in their communities. These include a collection of SDOH action guides, a public health and primary care integration guide and a public health preparedness prevention guide, all of which will be published in the coming months.
Keep an eye on The EveryONE Project webpage and the Academy’s Facebook, X and LinkedIn accounts for details.