NEW HYDE PARK, N.Y. — Northwell Health has introduced a new digital toolkit aimed at helping hospitals and health systems across the United States develop and expand gun violence prevention programs.
The resource, unveiled at the health system’s annual Gun Violence Prevention Forum, was developed with support from the Joyce Foundation and input from experts nationwide. It is designed to provide practical guidance for health care providers seeking to address firearm-related injuries and deaths as a growing public health issue.
The toolkit compiles nearly 100 strategies spanning clinical care, community engagement, and system-level interventions. It is intended to help health systems tailor prevention efforts to local needs, overcome implementation challenges, and identify sustainable funding sources while scaling programs over time.
“There is no one-size-fits-all approach to gun violence prevention as firearm suicide, unintentional injury, interpersonal and community violence, and mass shootings impact each community differently. For years, health care providers around the country have been building and researching approaches to reduce firearm injuries and prevent gun violence,” said Chethan Sathya, M.D., a pediatric trauma surgeon and director of the Center for Gun Violence Prevention at Northwell. “This resource brings those lessons and best practices together in one place. We’re grateful to the leadership here at Northwell Health and the Joyce Foundation for taking the bold step to prioritize gun violence prevention work, and to our health system partners for expertise and support.”
The initiative builds on Northwell’s broader efforts to treat gun violence as a public health crisis. The health system launched its Center for Gun Violence Prevention in 2020 and has since expanded its work to include research, clinical support services, and screening for firearm-related risk factors.
In 2022, Northwell also established the National Health Care CEO Council on Gun Violence Prevention & Safety, a coalition of leaders from major hospitals and health systems focused on developing best practices and advancing coordinated action across the sector.
“The Joyce Foundation has long supported efforts to reduce gun violence through evidence-based approaches,” said Soledad Adrianzén McGrath, program director for the foundation’s Gun Violence Prevention and Justice Reform Program. “This toolkit reflects the depth of work already underway in clinical settings across the country and provides a roadmap to help more health systems take part in that progress. We’re grateful to our partners at Northwell Health, and the many health sector stakeholders they work with, for putting together this resource.”
Northwell officials said the toolkit is intended to help move health systems from planning to action in addressing firearm violence, which remains a leading cause of injury and death in many communities.
“Gun violence is a public health crisis that demands action from all of us – and health care has a unique responsibility and platform to lead,” said John D’Angelo, M.D., president and CEO of Northwell Health. “Thanks to Northwell’s Center for Gun Violence Prevention team and support from the Joyce Foundation, we’re able to equip and empower every hospital and health system to meaningfully address this crisis in their communities.”
