Standing in the Gap: The Crisis of U.S. Health Deserts and The Folks Ensuring Their Neighbors Receive Care
SERIES TRAILER: "Standing in the Gap” is a docu-series about the crisis of health deserts in the U.S. and the folks who are ensuring their neighbors can access care.
One woman opens up about experiencing period poverty, and what’s she’s doing to combat it today in Appalachia.
A doula who is standing in the gap to ensure her community receives care opens up about her own challenges in living in a healthcare desert.
A rural OBGYN on his endless tour of duty. A shortage of qualified providers willing to work in rural areas forces existing providers to work longer hours, increasing the risk of burnout.
A social-first documentary series to inspire action
This is the story of how a perfect storm of policy failure, economic pressure, and political chaos is creating "health deserts," and breaking healthcare for all of us. It's a story about what happens when the system we rely on for survival leaves us behind.
The Problem: 80% of U.S. counties are now considered healthcare deserts, impacting over 120 million Americans (KFF)
The Compounding Deserts: These deserts overlap, creating a nightmare of zero-access zones. Over 30% of Americans lack adequate access to services like pharmacies, primary care providers, hospitals, and trauma centers.
35% of counties in the U.S. are classified as maternal health deserts, meaning they lack access to hospitals or birth centers providing obstetric care. These areas are home to over 2.3 million women of reproductive age and suffer from a lack of obstetric providers, leading to higher risks for mothers and babies. (March of Dimes)
19 million women live in "contraceptive deserts," lacking access to a full range of birth control. (PTD)
"Standing In the Gap" will be a series of short, powerful social-media-first documentary films (90-120 seconds), each telling a story of the splintering of American healthcare, while highlighting the heroes who are working to offer care to their neighbors.
Each film will be packaged and targeted for key audiences with three goals in mind: educating everyday Americans that these disparities exist, encouraging Americans to take part in our Democratic process and use their voices, and supporting the organizations working on the front lines.
Every story will drive to a single, clear, measurable call to action. Our primary KPIs are awareness and support.
Potential Actions (We will select one per story):
Click-to-Donate: A direct link to support the organizations stepping into the gap
Resources: Free and low-cost healthcare resource guides
Click-to-Register: A direct link to register to vote
Targeted Share: Prompt a user to share the video with someone who cares about healthcare