Why providers, lawyers and community-based workers are the public health dream team

The things we generally view as determinants of health—genetics, personal choices, and access to high-quality care—really only play a supporting role. In fact, social, economic and environmental factors determine as much as 60% of an individual’s health status. Those factors can make it difficult for vulnerable populations to improve their health, but with the help of medical-legal partnerships (MLPs), it’s not impossible, according to presenters at the Public Health Law Conference on Friday. MLPs give legal and community-based professionals a voice in the healthcare realm, paving the way to remedy health disparities through civil law.