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4 Stories on Gun Violence Being Addressed as a Public Health Issue

Analysis  |  By Melanie Blackman  
   December 28, 2022

Health system leaders made addressing gun violence as a health issue a top priority this year.

There was a big focus shift onto social determinants of health (SDOH) during the pandemic, with hospitals and health systems focusing on non-medical factors that affect patients' health. And that work has kept going.

The focus widened and numerous hospital and health system leaders were vocal this year about how gun violence also affects a person's overall health. Below are four articles that showcase the strategies that health systems have taken to screen patients, address the negative effects of, and create ways to make it easier to speak about gun violence as a public health issue.

Northwell Health CEO Addresses Gun Violence Prevention

This year, a group of more than 550 CEOs and leaders of organizations from different sectors around the country signed a letter sent to the U.S. Senate, demanding action on gun violence. Among the signees were several healthcare executives, including Michael Dowling, president and CEO of Northwell Health, New York's largest healthcare provider.

Dowling is a strong voice on gun violence prevention and advocacy and has been for quite some time. In the past, he has spoken about how healthcare providers need to rally and mobilize for gun control. He has also shared his thoughts on gun violence as a public health issue through media sources and Northwell Health's blog.

Earlier this year, Dowling spoke to HealthLeaders about the current gun violence climate, including how gun violence affects the health of the community and how Northwell is addressing gun violence prevention, and he is urging other healthcare leaders to step up and treat gun violence as a health issue.

Read more.

5 Questions With Health System CEOs on Addressing Gun Violence

Earlier this year, a group of more than 550 CEOs and leaders of organizations from different sectors around the country signed a letter sent to the Senate demanding action on gun violence.

Among the signees were several healthcare executives, including Michael Dowling, president and CEO of Northwell Health in New Hyde Park, New York; Thomas W. Scott, president and CEO of CentraState Healthcare System in Freehold, New Jersey; and Neil M Meltzer, president and CEO of LifeBridge Health in Baltimore.

Scott and Meltzer connected with HealthLeaders via email about the letter, and also addressed the impact that gun violence has on the health of communities and how their organizations are addressing gun violence and prevention measures.

Read more.

Keeping Your Communities, Employees Safe from Gun Violence

Meghan Walsh, MD, MPH, FACP, serves as the chief academic officer for Hennepin Healthcare, a Level I adult trauma center, Level I pediatric trauma center, and acute care hospital in the heart of Minneapolis.

Over the past two decades, Walsh has witnessed a lot of change and challenges, and with that, solutions and innovations were created to benefit the community, both inside and outside the walls of the organization.

One of the challenges is the increase in gun violence and its lasting effects. In a previous HealthLeaders Podcast episode, Walsh spoke about the gun violence epidemic and how Hennepin is addressing community violence both inside and outside the organization's walls, and she offers leadership insights.

Read more.

Northwell Marketing Campaign Wants to Normalize The Conversation Around Gun Safety

Launched in September and supported by more than one thousand hospitals across the country, the American Hospital Association, the Children's Hospital Association, and the Catholic Health Association of America, the first national gun violence awareness campaign urges parents to ask, "is there an unlocked gun in the house," when dropping off their kids at someone else's home.

The campaign's media channels include print ads— with an ad in the New York Times—15-second national and New York-based television spots, billboards, social media posts, online video, radio public service announcements, a coalition website, and a website for the awareness campaign.

Chethan Sathya, MD, Director of Northwell's Center for Gun Violence Prevention and pediatric trauma surgeon, recently spoke with HealthLeaders about the campaign and Northwell's continued work against gun violence.

Read more.

Melanie Blackman is a contributing editor for strategy, marketing, and human resources at HealthLeaders, an HCPro brand.

Photo credit: Michael Dowling speaking at Northwell Health's Gun Violence Prevention Forum. Photo courtesy of Northwell Health.


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