ABSTRACT
COVID-19 has fundamentally changed how society delivers health care, provides services, and cares for and educates our children. Entrenched problems that seem insurmountable are laid bare for all to see as we weather the pandemic. We cannot afford to tinker around the edges anymore. We must be creative, innovative, and bold to address systemic issues that impact our most under-resourced communities.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Pandemics , Humans , North Carolina/epidemiology , Rural Population , SARS-CoV-2ABSTRACT
In spite of improvements in its health care delivery systems and in local and state public health infrastructure, North Carolina continues to face significant challenges in improving the health of its citizens. The state lags behind almost two-thirds of the nation in overall health status, and racial and ethnic disparities exist across multiple indicators of health outcomes. A growing body of knowledge is emerging regarding the effects of various social, environmental, and economic factors on health status. The commentaries published in this issue of NCMJ address the relationships between health status or health outcomes and such factors as education, income, race or ethnicity, housing, and neighborhoods. Success stories and promising practices and projects in North Carolina are also featured.
