3 Lessons from Denmark for Investing in People and Places (Natural Resources Defense Council)
Through the Delaware Center for Health Innovation (DCHI) and numerous stakeholder groups and organizations, Delaware is making significant inroads towards both improving access to healthcare and addressing the social determinants of health (SDOH) that can negatively impact the overall wellbeing of our communities. The state is not alone in this endeavor. States across the country are seeing a consistent need to change the way healthcare is viewed and accessed. “Research suggests that access to quality clinical care only contributes to 20% of overall health outcomes, while health behaviors and social and economic factors, along with the physical environment, account for the rest.”
This article from the Natural Resources Defense Fund (NRDF) notes that local communities need to be places where members “thrive and not just survive.” Specifically looking at the role public spaces play in creating healthy outcomes, Stephanie Gidigbi from NRDF highlights how integrated planning in Copenhagen has put “people first” to achieve “more inclusive, healthy, and equitable communities through public spaces.”
Noting three main lessons that can be transferred from the European city to US cities - investing in the built environment and social programs, building on community assets, and addressing immediate needs - Gidigbi reports that “across the U.S., cities, regions, and local collaboratives are putting into practice some of the key concepts that led to Copenhagen’s success.”
Delaware is one such state that is creating opportunities for significant change through its five committees emphasizing community health, practice transformation, and the move towards more value-based outcomes. With collaboration across public and private stakeholders, DCHI is working to drive investment in social programs, health care, and local community involvement, and addressing the unique short- and long-term needs of Delaware’s neighborhoods, with the ultimate goal of being one of the five healthiest states in the nation. To learn more, visit us at https://www.dehealthinnovation.org/.
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