{"id":7118,"date":"2023-07-21T00:07:41","date_gmt":"2023-07-21T00:07:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/?p=7118"},"modified":"2024-11-05T22:40:05","modified_gmt":"2024-11-05T22:40:05","slug":"index-reveals-healthcare-gaps-across-america","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/industry-trends\/index-reveals-healthcare-gaps-across-america\/","title":{"rendered":"Healthcare Deserts: Index Reveals Gaps Across U.S."},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Healthcare shortages and access to healthcare have become heightened concerns across America, especially following the stress and chaos of the COVID-19 global pandemic. These struggles emphasized the significance of ensuring that all Americans have access to affordable healthcare in case of any future catastrophic health events.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Healthcare is a basic human need; however, there are citizens in many states who still struggle to access and afford this basic right despite improvements to healthcare laws. To gain a more detailed idea of where healthcare deserts exist across America, we scored each state based on their performance across six different categories related to healthcare access and affordability.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The figures analyzed in this index were obtained from six categories listed below:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">No. of available jobs per 100k people<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">No. of community hospitals per 100k people<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cost of living against the US average<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Healthcare expenditure per capita<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Healthcare insurance coverage<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Median household salary<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h6 id=\"back-to-top\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">To assess the level of healthcare access in each state, a standardized set of criteria was used to assign a score out of 100, with 100 representing the best possible healthcare access. This score provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of healthcare poverty nationwide and helps healthcare professionals (HCPs) identify areas where staffing shortages are most prevalent and where additional resources are needed.<\/span><\/h6>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #3c3b3d;color:#3c3b3d\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #3c3b3d;color:#3c3b3d\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/industry-trends\/index-reveals-healthcare-gaps-across-america\/#the_worst_states_for_healthcare_access\" >The Worst States for Healthcare Access<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/industry-trends\/index-reveals-healthcare-gaps-across-america\/#the_best_states_for_healthcare_access\" >The Best States for Healthcare Access<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/industry-trends\/index-reveals-healthcare-gaps-across-america\/#the_state_of_health_insurance_coverage_across_the_us\" >The State of Health Insurance Coverage Across the U.S.<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/industry-trends\/index-reveals-healthcare-gaps-across-america\/#the_worst_states_for_healthcare_insurance_coverage\" >The Worst States for Healthcare Insurance Coverage<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/industry-trends\/index-reveals-healthcare-gaps-across-america\/#the_best_states_for_health_insurance_coverage\" >The Best States for Health Insurance Coverage<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/industry-trends\/index-reveals-healthcare-gaps-across-america\/#why_are_some_americans_uninsured\" >Why Are Some Americans Uninsured?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/industry-trends\/index-reveals-healthcare-gaps-across-america\/#why_health_equity_is_important_to_healthcare_workers\" >Why Health Equity Is Important to Healthcare Workers<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/industry-trends\/index-reveals-healthcare-gaps-across-america\/#social_support_for_the_disadvantaged\" >Social Support for the Disadvantaged<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/industry-trends\/index-reveals-healthcare-gaps-across-america\/#understanding_the_healthcare_employment_landscape\" >Understanding the Healthcare Employment Landscape<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/industry-trends\/index-reveals-healthcare-gaps-across-america\/#how_medical_professionals_can_improve_health_equity\" >How Medical Professionals Can Improve Health Equity<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"the_worst_states_for_healthcare_access\"><\/span><b>The Worst States for Healthcare Access<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Based on this research, the index revealed New York to be the most impoverished state for healthcare access, with a total score of 71.87 out of 100. This was followed by New Mexico (73.02) and New Hampshire (73.28). The states ranking as the 10 worst for healthcare access in America can be seen below.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-7130\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/07\/Worst-HC-Access-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"596\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/07\/Worst-HC-Access-Edit.jpg 987w, https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/07\/Worst-HC-Access-Edit-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/07\/Worst-HC-Access-Edit-300x298.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/07\/Worst-HC-Access-Edit-768x763.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/07\/Worst-HC-Access-Edit-373x370.jpg 373w, https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/07\/Worst-HC-Access-Edit-745x740.jpg 745w, https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/07\/Worst-HC-Access-Edit-152x152.jpg 152w, https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/07\/Worst-HC-Access-Edit-50x50.jpg 50w, https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/07\/Worst-HC-Access-Edit-100x100.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong><a style=\"color: #006400;\" href=\"#back-to-top\">Back to Top<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"the_best_states_for_healthcare_access\"><\/span><b>The Best States for Healthcare Access<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In contrast, Kansas received a perfect score of 100 in all categories, making it the top state in our index for healthcare access and affordability. This was followed by Nebraska (98.77) and Utah (98.51). The 10 best states for healthcare access can be seen below.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-7131\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/07\/Best-HC-Access-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"596\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/07\/Best-HC-Access-Edit.jpg 987w, https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/07\/Best-HC-Access-Edit-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/07\/Best-HC-Access-Edit-300x298.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/07\/Best-HC-Access-Edit-768x763.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/07\/Best-HC-Access-Edit-373x370.jpg 373w, https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/07\/Best-HC-Access-Edit-745x740.jpg 745w, https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/07\/Best-HC-Access-Edit-152x152.jpg 152w, https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/07\/Best-HC-Access-Edit-50x50.jpg 50w, https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/07\/Best-HC-Access-Edit-100x100.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong><a style=\"color: #006400;\" href=\"#back-to-top\">Back to Top<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"the_state_of_health_insurance_coverage_across_the_us\"><\/span><b>The State of Health Insurance Coverage Across the U.S.<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Over the past decade, the government has implemented various initiatives aimed at enhancing healthcare coverage and services nationwide. In 2010, the Affordable Healthcare Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare, was signed into law with three primary objectives. Firstly, it aimed to make healthcare insurance more affordable and accessible to a larger number of people in the United States by reducing costs for households below the federal poverty line. Secondly, it sought to extend Medicaid coverage to those with low incomes. Thirdly, the act aimed to encourage medical innovation to help reduce the overall cost of healthcare in America.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF), <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">40 states plus Washington, D.C. have now adopted the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kff.org\/health-reform\/state-indicator\/state-activity-around-expanding-medicaid-under-the-affordable-care-act\/\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Medicaid expansion<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> decision, ensuring more people can access fairly priced insurance. Only 10 states, including Texas, Florida, Kansas and Georgia, have not adopted the expansion.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"the_worst_states_for_healthcare_insurance_coverage\"><\/span><b>The Worst States for Healthcare Insurance Coverage<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Our research on the Vivian Health Index highlighted that certain states still have inadequate health insurance coverage, which puts a significant number of people at risk.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to our index, Texas has the lowest health insurance coverage rate compared to the rest of the United States, with a 9.4% difference. Interestingly, many of the states with the lowest rankings in our index have not yet decided to adopt the Medicaid expansion, including Wyoming, Georgia, Florida and Texas. This suggests a correlation between these states&#8217; decisions and their low health insurance coverage rates.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-7132\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/07\/Worst-HC-Insurance-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"650\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/07\/Worst-HC-Insurance-Edit.jpg 987w, https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/07\/Worst-HC-Insurance-Edit-277x300.jpg 277w, https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/07\/Worst-HC-Insurance-Edit-768x833.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/07\/Worst-HC-Insurance-Edit-945x1024.jpg 945w, https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/07\/Worst-HC-Insurance-Edit-341x370.jpg 341w, https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/07\/Worst-HC-Insurance-Edit-683x740.jpg 683w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong><a style=\"color: #006400;\" href=\"#back-to-top\">Back to Top<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"the_best_states_for_health_insurance_coverage\"><\/span><b>The Best States for Health Insurance Coverage<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Although there are challenges to overcome, our analysis of data has shown that certain states have higher rates of insurance coverage compared to the national average. Massachusetts ranked as the top state in our index, with 6.1% greater health insurance coverage compared to the U.S. average. It is worth noting that all of the top 10 states have implemented Medicaid expansion programs, which aim to provide healthcare coverage to more individuals.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-7133\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/07\/Best-HC-Insurance-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"650\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/07\/Best-HC-Insurance-Edit.jpg 987w, https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/07\/Best-HC-Insurance-Edit-277x300.jpg 277w, https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/07\/Best-HC-Insurance-Edit-768x833.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/07\/Best-HC-Insurance-Edit-945x1024.jpg 945w, https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/07\/Best-HC-Insurance-Edit-341x370.jpg 341w, https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/07\/Best-HC-Insurance-Edit-683x740.jpg 683w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong><a style=\"color: #006400;\" href=\"#back-to-top\">Back to Top<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"why_are_some_americans_uninsured\"><\/span><b>Why Are Some Americans Uninsured?<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Low income is the main cause of uninsured Americans, per<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kff.org\/uninsured\/issue-brief\/key-facts-about-the-uninsured-population\/\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">KFF population data<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. According to this study, the majority of individuals without health insurance come from low-income households that have at least one employed member. Due to the lack of public health coverage in certain areas, adults are more prone to being uninsured compared to children.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Although policies such as the ACA and Medicaid expansion were implemented to make coverage more affordable, there are still many people who remain uninsured due to the high cost of insurance being a primary barrier. For example, in 2021, 64% of uninsured adults reported in a KFF study that they were uninsured due to the high cost of premiums.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many individuals lack job-provided insurance, and certain low-income adults in non-Medicaid expanding states are still ineligible for coverage that is based on financial assistance.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"why_health_equity_is_important_to_healthcare_workers\"><\/span><b>Why Health Equity Is Important to Healthcare Workers<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The lack of healthcare services in certain areas is a major concern for the public and can also impact HCPs. These problems can increase the workload of HCPs, limit career growth opportunities and potentially reduce income potential.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"social_support_for_the_disadvantaged\"><\/span><b>Social Support for the Disadvantaged<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nurses, allied health professionals and other healthcare workers should lead the charge in advocating for policies that address restricted access to healthcare. These HCPs often enter the field with the goal of serving the social, emotional and physical needs of marginalized populations, which healthcare equity initiatives aim to address.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to the National Center for Health Statistics, individuals who are socially and economically disadvantaged have a higher likelihood of experiencing poorer health, lack of access to quality healthcare services and premature death compared to those who are socially and economically advantaged. As a result, improving access to healthcare for all is crucial.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"understanding_the_healthcare_employment_landscape\"><\/span><b>Understanding the Healthcare Employment Landscape<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Within our index, one of the main categories states were ranked on was the number of unfilled healthcare jobs per capita. By analyzing vacant jobs, we identified areas where many healthcare and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/industry-trends\/nursing-shortage-by-state\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">nurse shortages<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> exist and areas that are underserved. This analysis helps applicants make more informed decisions when searching for their next staff or travel assignment.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At the time of writing, North Dakota had the most unfilled healthcare positions per capita at 196 jobs per 100k of the population. This corresponds to our 2023 index: <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/travel-nursing\/best-states-for-travel-nurses-to-work\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Best States for Travel Nurses to Work<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which identified the Dakotas as the best state for travel nurses to work. However, the abundance of vacancies also indicates a decrease in public access to healthcare professionals in this area. The following list displays the top 10 states with the most unfilled positions.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><a style=\"color: #006400;\" href=\"#back-to-top\">Back to Top<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-7134\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/07\/Worst-Unfilled-Jobs-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"626\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/07\/Worst-Unfilled-Jobs-Edit.jpg 987w, https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/07\/Worst-Unfilled-Jobs-Edit-287x300.jpg 287w, https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/07\/Worst-Unfilled-Jobs-Edit-768x801.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/07\/Worst-Unfilled-Jobs-Edit-981x1024.jpg 981w, https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/07\/Worst-Unfilled-Jobs-Edit-355x370.jpg 355w, https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/07\/Worst-Unfilled-Jobs-Edit-709x740.jpg 709w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"how_medical_professionals_can_improve_health_equity\"><\/span><b>How Medical Professionals Can Improve Health Equity<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Improving poverty levels and addressing disparities in America is not the primary responsibility of our key medical workers. However, due to their crucial role in enhancing health across the nation, they possess the ability to steer this change in the right direction. According to the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/books\/NBK573898\/\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">National Academies of Science Journal<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, nurses can play a significant part in reshaping the health equity landscape in the upcoming decade by exploring new settings and methods and advocating for policy changes.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The journal highlights that certain nurses are already engaged in roles and settings that promote health equity and are actively educating and advocating for it through their professional organizations. Nevertheless, with broader involvement from medical professionals, every nurse can contribute to advancing health equity on a national level.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Continue to explore more U.S. data and employment trends in our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/travel-nursing\/best-states-for-travel-nurses-to-work\/\">2023 Index: The Best States for Travel Nurses to Work<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><a style=\"background-color: #124e3b; color: #fdfeff; font-size: 20px; border-radius: 10px; padding: 15px; min-height: 30px; min-width: 120px;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/browse-jobs\/landing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Browse Jobs<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u00a9 Vivian Health 2023<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>See which states rank the best and the worst for healthcare access across America.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7125,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[110],"tags":[18],"class_list":["post-7118","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-industry-trends","tag-allhcp"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/07\/header-1200-H.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7118","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7118"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7118\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7125"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7118"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7118"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7118"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}