Whole-person health Is the Key to Reducing Disparities and Driving Patient Trust

For the first time in 50 years, life expectancy has dropped in the United States. The direct toll of the pandemic, as well as the delayed and avoided health care that stemmed from it, led to the largest one-year decline in life expectancy since World War II between 2020 - 2021. As we continue to face the COVID-19 pandemic and its long-term consequences, it is more important than ever for providers to build trust with patients. The influx of medical information and misinformation throughout the pandemic resulted in fear and skepticism. As patients, families, and communities return to normal there is an underlying need to adopt healthy behaviors, limit personal risks, and be proactive in caring for our bodies and minds. Trusting relationships between patients and health care providers is the best starting point for individuals to reengage and address health gaps. But many providers aren’t sure where to begin.