FORBES | It’s no secret that the best data often begets the best policy, especially when it comes to community health and wellness. Having accurate, timely, and well-informed data is often the difference maker that allows communities to dramatically move the needle on health disparities.
When it comes to health disparities, the city of Nashville can – and must – do better. Nashville is known nationally as a health services capital, yet our own community health and well-being statistics rank far worse than the cities we compete with on a daily basis.
For many, this comes as a surprise. Nashville is filled with top-level academic institutions, nationally renowned hospitals, and tremendous economic growth, and it is home to some of the largest health and hospital systems in the country. But when compared to cities like Austin, Charlotte, Denver, and Dallas, we have the worst life expectancy and highest rates of infant mortality, smoking, and number of poor mental health days by far.
How can Nashville, an otherwise thriving city, work to ensure that every single one of our community members has an opportunity for a healthy life?
Read more at Forbes: https://www.forbes.com/sites/billfrist/2022/08/18/cultivating-a-culture-of-health-how-comprehensive-community-wide-hypertension-data-are-inspiring-heath-equity/?sh=388ce0817018