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Originally Posted On: https://guymedagliail.wordpress.com/2023/03/03/guy-medaglia-on-how-your-neighborhood-is-affecting-your-health/
Your home address can have a huge impact on your health. The environment in which you live affects your access to healthy food, parks, and other forms of recreation, as well as your air quality, noise levels, and other factors that can affect your physical and mental health.
This is why it’s so important to understand the concept of health equity. Health equity is the idea that everyone should have the same access to resources that promote health, regardless of their economic or social circumstances. Unfortunately, there is often a discrepancy between people of different backgrounds when it comes to health equity, and it’s often the people in lower-income and disadvantaged neighborhoods who suffer the most.
The effects of living in an unhealthy neighborhood can be seen in numerous ways. People living in areas with high levels of air pollution, for example, are more likely to suffer from respiratory illnesses. Areas with poor access to healthy food often have higher rates of obesity and other diet-related diseases. If you live in an area that lacks grocery stores or markets with fresh fruits and vegetables, it can be challenging to maintain a healthy diet. In addition, higher levels of poverty and crime can contribute to feelings of stress, anxiety, and depression.
Fortunately, there are ways to improve health equity in neighborhoods. It is important for communities to recognize the social determinants of health and to create ways to address them, and access to safe and well-maintained outdoor spaces can also impact your health. Living in an area with parks or green spaces can provide opportunities for physical activity, stress reduction, and social interaction, all of which can promote better health outcomes.
“As the CEO of a community hospital, I firmly believe that when we invest in underserved and underrepresented communities, we strengthen the economic and social fabric of our cities and our society”, Guy A. Medaglia, President and CEO of Saint Anthony Hospital and Chicago Southwest Development Corporation, a not-for-profit organization that is building a new Saint Anthony Hospital and 30-acre community campus designed to address the social determinants of health on Chicago’s west and southwest sides. “This includes community initiatives that promote physical activity, healthy eating, and access to safe space in addition to quality health care.”
Ultimately, improving health equity in our neighborhoods is essential for creating a healthier, happier society. By investing in our communities, we can ensure that everyone has access to the resources they need to lead a healthy life.
About Guy Medaglia:
Guy Medaglia of Chicago, IL is the Saint Anthony Hospital President & Chief Executive since July 2010. Guy Medaglia and his team led the financial turnaround of the hospital that continues to serve a patient population that is more than 60 percent Medicaid and Medicare. Mr. Medaglia also led the hospital’s separation from a national health care system. Under his leadership, Saint Anthony Hospital was rated City of Chicago’s “Best Value” hospital by Amino Healthcare Transparency Company, and received two consecutive Illinois Performance Excellence Bronze Awards for “Commitment to Excellence” by demonstrating earnest efforts to adopt and apply continuous improvement principles, following the Baldrige Criteria.
