Breaking Barriers to Health Equity

When we think about our health, our minds often jump to things like cholesterol levels, blood pressure, or our annual check-ups. But what if we told you that your health is far more influenced by where you live than by what happens in a doctor's office? Learn about social drivers of health in this WFMY 2 Your Well-Being conversation with Olu Jegede, MD, Chief Health Equity & Community Impact Officer, Cone Health.

Social Drivers of Health

These are the conditions in which we are born, live, learn, work, and age. They include things like:

• Housing stability
• Access to transportation
• Education
• Income
• Availability of healthy food

"Clinical work… is only about 20% of [your] health outcome," explains Dr. Jegede. "These social drivers constitute about 80%."

This means that the biggest influence on our well-being and life expectancy isn't medical care, but the daily environment we navigate.

Inequalities

This reality is particularly stark in our own community. In Guilford County and beyond, there can be a 15-year gap in life expectancy between different parts of the city.

These disparities are often tied to factors like:

• Lack of access to parks
• Scarcity of grocery stores
• Far distances to clinics
• Aging at faster rates
• Shortage of affordable housing
• Limited transportation

These differences lead to higher rates of chronic illnesses and fewer opportunities for people to thrive.

Cone Health's Commitment to Health Equity

At Cone Health we are dedicated to bridging these gaps and ensuring that everyone has a "fair and just opportunity to be as healthy as possible." To achieve this, we are tackling social drivers of health head-on with a range of innovative resources:

• FindHelp.com: This is a free, easy-to-use online tool that acts as a "GPS for hope." By simply entering your zip code at conehealth.com/findhelp, you can find a comprehensive list of local resources for food, housing support, job training, transportation, and more. It's available to everyone, 24/7, with no login or insurance required.

• Building a Better You events: These free community events offer a one-stop shop for free health screenings, primary care connections, and on-site assistance for social needs like food and housing. The next events are scheduled for August 2nd at the Greensboro Coliseum and September 27th in Rockingham County. No pre-registration is needed, just show up! For more details, visit conehealth.com/buildingabetteryou.

• Mobile Health Program: Recognizing that availability doesn't always equal accessibility, we bring healthcare directly to you. The Mobile Medicine program sends a mobile clinic into neighborhoods, partnering with faith-based organizations, schools, and community centers. No appointment is needed—you can simply walk in for wellness checks, vaccinations, blood pressure screenings, and urgent care services. To find out where the mobile clinic will be next, visit conehealth.com/mobilehealth.

"Quarterback" Providers

While these resources are vital, having a trusted primary care provider is still incredibly important. Dr. Jegede calls this your health "quarterback".

This provider helps with preventive care, catches issues early, and, most importantly, connects you to social support systems like FindHelp.

"Wellness does not end with a prescription," Dr. Jegede emphasizes. "It includes everything that impacts your ability to live well. Your address, your street address, should not determine how long or how well you live."

Cone Health is committed to removing those barriers and bringing care within reach for everyone, one connection at a time.