Carlie Austin, BSN, RN, shares her journey serving as the maternal infant health policy specialist at the MHA.
As a clinician, what drew you to a role tied to public policy?
If I had to sum it up in two words, I’d say problems and solutions. The challenges I’ve encountered at the clinical level and my quest for generating solutions at the hospital and community level naturally led me to this role. The reality is that the nursing profession is inherently tied to public policy.
One of my favorite documents to read is the Guide to Nursing’s Social Policy Statement. It essentially tells us that it’s our professional duty to address the problems faced by the people we serve, including disparities and inequities. My favorite line says, “In some instances nursing will be in the vanguard of emerging health-related issues. Nursing will participate in the promulgation of healthcare policy at regional, state, national and global levels. Protection of the public through advocacy also includes whistleblowing.”
Although “whistleblowing” may have a negative connotation, I interpret it as meaning that we all should be productive disruptors of the systems, practices and barriers that make it difficult to deliver equitable care to all of our communities. Public policy is about intentionally targeting problems and creating meaningful solutions to support the greater good.
What are some of the things you learned about public policy in your time at MHA?
I learned that public policy truly requires the engagement of issue experts. The saying “people closest to the problem are closest to the solution” has taken on a new meaning during my time at the MHA. I learned that public policy is reliant on relationship and true collaboration among diverse stakeholders in order to foster solutions that best serve Michigan communities.
How did your clinical background inform or influence conversations around public policy? Why should providers and clinicians be involved in public policy?
To quote my supervisor, Lauren LaPine, Senior Director, Legislative and Public Policy, MHA, “having perspective from the bedside helps the MHA create policy and legislative efforts statewide that are directly informed by experience treating patients. Having your insight helps us more deeply focus on public policy that is patient-centered.”
Lauren’s words perfectly capture why clinical providers should be involved in public policy and the strong influence we can have. Before taking this role, fellow bedside nurses questioned my decision. They saw a public narrative that shaped their perceptions of the health policy environment; however, I took the role to challenge that narrative, to inspire systematic change, and to bridge the voice of the bedside with the power of policy.
I was able to show up authentically because I was a part of a team that granted me the space to challenge our system to be better. I’ve worked on efforts to improve maternal regionalization, used my lived experience to advance health equity solutions and regularly engaged with community stakeholders. We’re facing unprecedented times in healthcare, but serving in this role has shown me what we can accomplish by being more intentional about unifying in areas that often divide us.
How can providers get involved in public policy and healthcare advocacy?
Start where you can. It’s our professional duty as providers to seek solutions for the problems we see. Engage with your executive leadership, community advocates, legislators and associations – including the MHA – that will listen and amplify your voice. Most importantly, be open. Never allow a narrative to deter you from writing your own. Public policy requires us all to creatively color outside of the lines.