“We urge both healthcare workers and community members to support the cause.”

Quickly think back to your last visit to your doctor. Whether it was an annual checkup with your primary care doctor or a follow-up visit with a specialist, your medical history probably included questions like “Do you smoke?” and “How many drinks do you drink each week?”

You probably haven’t been asked whether you, as an American citizen, are exercising one of your most fundamental rights: the right to vote. We argue that this question is of equal, if not greater, importance when it comes to health than some of the other questions you have probably been asked.

If the connection is non-consecutive in nature, you are not alone; Many people reluctantly raise an eyebrow at the mere mention of civics in medicine. But the interactions between civic engagement and health are evident in the data: namely, that civic engagement has a positive impact on health and vice versa, so much so that the American Medical Association has declared that “Voting is a social determinant of health “is critically important.” contributes to the analysis of other social determinants of health as a key metric.”

In fact, voting affects health in several ways. Not only can voters cast their ballots for leaders who promise positive health policies and participate in referendums on specific health issues, but the mere act of voting itself—along with civic engagement in general—can directly improve a person’s physical and mental health well-being. Conversely, poorer physical and mental health is associated with lower civic engagement over time, and states with poorer health outcomes also have less accessible voting practices.

But according to the Pew Research Center, only two-thirds of the eligible voter population cast a ballot in the 2020 presidential election, with a truly historic turnout, the highest of any national election since 1990. A Closer Look This data over time suggests that a big Part of the people, even when they vote, do so at times.

What if you had a job where you were at the center of health policy issues that negatively impact patient care? This is the case for most healthcare workers, who continually struggle with the physical consequences of chronic illness, firearm injuries, and untreated mental illness. Surprisingly, however, healthcare workers are significantly less likely to vote than the general population and even less likely than their colleagues in the legal and teaching professions. Now is the time to change this reality.

This election season, in a country still reeling from the aftereffects of a deadly pandemic, health is at the top of the ballot — and we urge both healthcare workers and community members to champion the cause. It’s time to reverse our worryingly low voter turnout and protect and advance the health care policies we care about through reinvigorated civic engagement.

We define civic engagement as all individual and collective actions aimed at identifying and addressing problems of public interest; This includes voting, letter writing, volunteering, and running for elected office. In the past, healthcare was viewed as an area outside of civic engagement. But the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, colloquially known as the Motor Voter Act, actually requires health centers that serve Medicaid recipients to provide nonpartisan voting assistance, such as through voter registration booths. In recent years, numerous nonpartisan groups have emerged to address the health workforce shortage in the political arena, such as Vot-ER and Civic Health Alliance, both of which aim to encourage health care workers to become more civically engaged.

What can you do to help in the Philadelphia area? At the local level, you can advance your civic engagement simply by spreading the word. Research shows that face-to-face interaction is still the most effective way to get someone to vote – so why not use your voice to attend a voting event in your neighborhood, volunteer for a grassroots organization, or lead your own campaign team to mobilize? Citizen’s mandate that has special meaning. For example, in 2020, author and Montgomery County resident JG launched her Propel the Vote campaign in North Wales to build enthusiasm for the election by walking the streets of the county, covering both physical and conversational topics . She plans a similar mission this election season, with an increased focus on health issues like reproductive rights that are acutely at stake.

So this election season, it’s time to respond to the loud wake-up call and vote like your health depends on it. And if you work in healthcare, recognize the special role you play in helping your colleagues and patients vote.

Jessica Grinspan and Dr. Stella Safo

Jessica Grinspan is a freelance writer, researcher, and director of research and outreach at the Civic Health Alliance. She also serves as a poll worker in Montgomery County elections.

Dr. Stella Safo is an HIV internist and family physician focused on health equity and civic engagement to improve health outcomes. She is co-founder of the Civic Health Alliance.

(This letter was submitted to North Penn Now courtesy of the authors. The views expressed are their own and are not representative of North Penn Now.)