PThC1 - All Hands on Deck: Engaging Inclusive Community Perspectives in Advocacy

Session Description: As our nation's healthcare infrastructure continues to grapple with deeply rooted inequities and barriers to care, The Wright Center has pioneered an advocacy model that empowers individuals at all levels within our community to influence and shape health policy. Our session, 'All Hands on Deck: Engaging Inclusive Community Perspectives in Advocacy,' underscores the transformative impact of inclusivity by involving a diverse array of stakeholders—patients, board members, clinicians, medical residents, and staff—in shaping healthcare policy with maximum effectiveness. Central to our model is the active participation of medical residents in advocacy initiatives, supported by the establishment of an advocacy committee within our board. Our efforts have been both supported and monumentalized by the NACHC Gold Advocacy Center of Excellence designation, recognizing our sustained commitment to high-level advocacy.

This approach is grounded in the understanding that addressing the political determinants of health is essential to improving social and environmental determinants and, in turn, enhancing health outcomes. By integrating insights from social determinants of health screenings with the firsthand experiences of patients and providers navigating the healthcare system, we’ve crafted a comprehensive advocacy strategy that resonates with policymakers at federal, state, and local levels. This has resulted in significant policy achievements, including Medicaid billing innovations, greater vaccine access, and clinical representation in policy making forums.

This presentation will explore how our inclusive, community-engaged approach has enabled us to amplify the voices of our diverse community, leading to more effective government engagement and long-lasting policy changes that advance public health and primary care delivery.