The Patients Association’s Post

Health disparities increased during the pandemic. 👎🏽 This is only partially true. The pandemic uncovered the ways health disparities were affecting populations of color at a higher rate. While the government did put in programs to expand health access (increase in #telemedicine being one), it couldn't overcome systems already in place. While there is a chance to move forward, some of the newer laws are making things worse. Those who had great access prior will probably still get it. But those most vulnerable will continue to be most affected. Even in #AI which everyone is bullish on this year has to incorporate the right data. Or this will make it exponentially worse. I say this often, but this is why I work(ed) with companies like Rocket Doctor or doxy.me that actively work on these issues. Or highlight companies like Zócalo Health, Praava Health or MyOwnDoctor in the #telehealthsuccess book. There are many more and it will take a concerted effort to curb this. But it also requires regulations and laws that help - not ones that actively work against them. #healthequity #equity #telemedicine #medicine

We had an incredible time at this year's annual symposium, focusing on the most promising advances in closing the health inequity gap through upstream policies and innovations. Our discussions centered on the policies that govern the social determinants of health and the innovations that facilitate the advancement of health equity. Trailblazing advocates shared their insights and achievements, highlighting the importance of removing obstacles to health such as poverty, discrimination, and their consequences. We engaged in thought-provoking round table discussions and dialogues with audience participants, exploring questions about the role of AI and other innovations in eradicating barriers to health equity. A huge thank you to our esteemed speakers: Caswell Evans, DDS, MPH, Kimberly S.G. Chang, MD, MPH, Kaz Rafia, DDS, MBA, MPH, Chief Health Equity Officer, Exec. Vice President, CareQuest Institute for Oral Health, Ariana McGee, Founder & CEO, Navigate Maternity. Participants gained valuable insights on the impact of policy in eliminating poverty and discrimination, the role of policy in driving innovations, and how to effect policy change in their work. A special focus was given to a case study on reproductive health, examining the impact of policy and innovation. Thank you to everyone who joined us in the continued quest to advance health equity. Together, we are making our communities more powerful and lives more equitable! 🌟 #HealthEquity #Innovation #PolicyChange #SymposiumRecap

Even though women tend to be the primary decision-makers regarding family healthcare in the United States, health inequity continues to impact access to healthcare and often delays treatment. Inequities are even worse for BIPOC women. This piece by Brooke Story, Worldwide President of Integrated Diagnostic Solutions at BD, highlights the important need for system strengthening and reform: https://lnkd.in/gDPU5y2m #SystemStrengthening #Equity #HealthOutcomes #DecisionMaking

Dismantling DEI efforts in healthcare poses a grave threat to our system, one that's long grappled with systemic racism, discrimination, and biases. The consequences? Life or death for patients of color. Check out my latest op-ed with The Nevada Independent, which highlights the importance of preserving diversity, equity, and inclusion programs as paramount for advancing healthcare and saving lives. https://lnkd.in/gUAGck9v #Dr_BCW #BeyondClinicalWalls #healthequity #healthliteracy #diversityequityinclusion #diversityandinclusion #diversitymatters #representationmatters #spreadawareness #healthadvocacy #patientadvocate #healthadvocate #healthadvocacy #racialbias #healthawareness #health

Have you registered for this week's General Member Webinar? "Maternal Health and Mortality, Intersecting Identities, and Pathways to Better Health Outcomes" Thursday, May 23, from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. ET Maternal mortality and health stand as paramount challenges within communities of color today. An examination of these pressing issues through the lens of intersectionality offers a comprehensive understanding of the multifaceted factors at play. By recognizing how intersecting identities like race, socioeconomic status, and geography intertwine, we gain insight into the disparities in access to care and health outcomes for expectant individuals. Essential to addressing this challenge is adopting an approach rooted in equity and social justice. Our panel of experts will share research findings, best practices, and strategies for advancing equity in maternal healthcare. Don't miss this opportunity to engage in critical dialogue and learn how we can work together to address disparities and improve maternal health outcomes for all. This webinar is being hosted on behalf of NACDD's Racial Equity Diversity and Inclusion (REDI) Alliance. Learn more and register today! https://lnkd.in/ewqnngvy

As future doctors- your efforts are important to advance health equity. Progress on health disparities is slow after 20 years: report | The National Academies of Sciences Engineering and Medicine on Wednesday said law and policy changes aimed at eliminating health disparities have made slow and uneven progress improving racial inequities over the past 20 years. [Modern Healthcare] The Ending Unequal Treatment report found that people of color in 2024 are still disproportionately uninsured, underutilizing care services and underrepresented in the healthcare workforce. The report is funded by the National Institutes of Health and Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and is a follow up to the academies' 2003 study on pervasive inequities in care access, coverage and treatment between patients of color and their white peers. More>https://lnkd.in/gfRXswGC #blackleadership #latinoleaders #equity #poverty #publichealth #socialchange #populationhealth #communityhealth #medicine #dental

April may be over, but the fight for #HealthEquity continues. This #NationalMinorityHealthMonth, we celebrate the strides made in improving health outcomes for minority communities. However, disparities still exist. At Uncharted Access, we envision a future where everyone has equal access to quality healthcare and participation in potentially life-changing clinical trials. Here's how we're working towards that vision: * **Connecting underserved communities** with relevant clinical trials. * **Educating and empowering** individuals about their healthcare options. * **Advocating for policies** that promote health equity and inclusion in research. Together, we can create a healthcare system that works for everyone. Join us in the movement! www.unchartedacces.com get involved #UnchartedAccess #ClinicalTrials #ForAll #Advocatesforhealthequity #Healthcareprofessionals #clinicalresearch #clinicalmatters

Join us for our next General Member Webinar! "Maternal Health and Mortality, Intersecting Identities, and Pathways to Better Health Outcomes" Thursday, May 23, from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. ET Maternal mortality and health stand as paramount challenges within communities of color today. An examination of these pressing issues through the lens of intersectionality offers a comprehensive understanding of the multifaceted factors at play. By recognizing how intersecting identities like race, socioeconomic status, and geography intertwine, we gain insight into the disparities in access to care and health outcomes for expectant individuals. Essential to addressing this challenge is adopting an approach rooted in equity and social justice. Our panel of experts will share research findings, best practices, and strategies for advancing equity in maternal healthcare. Don't miss this opportunity to engage in critical dialogue and learn how we can work together to address disparities and improve maternal health outcomes for all. This webinar is being hosted on behalf of NACDD's Racial Equity Diversity and Inclusion (REDI) Alliance. Learn more and register today! https://lnkd.in/ewqnngvy

April is National Minority Health Month in the US. The month aims to raise awareness of the health disparities among minority populations and encourage everyone to take action to end these inequities. The theme for 2024 is "Be the Source for Better Health: Improving Health Outcomes Through Our Cultures, Communities, and Connections" and focuses on how minority populations' unique social determinants of health (SDOH) impact health. One of the five domains of SDOH is healthcare access and quality. 🏥 What impacts healthcare access and quality? Lack of insurance coverage, access to preventative care, screening programs, chronic illness treatment, and living in remote areas can all impact healthcare access and quality. New technology like AI offers hope for many areas of medicine, promising earlier diagnosis, reduced workloads, and better care. However, it is also an area with the potential for worsening health equity, especially in minority populations. Algorithmic bias can exacerbate existing inequalities through technology that isn't as effective on all members of society. A cornerstone of mitigating algorithmic bias is high-quality, representative training data. Minority populations are often underrepresented in training datasets, meaning that new technology isn't optimized based on their characteristics, potentially leading to missed diagnoses, incorrect information, and poorer health outcomes. We focus on providing innovators with the large and diverse datasets they need to create medical technologies that advance health equity and reduce health disparities. This is a small but essential piece of a larger puzzle addressing SDOH and health disparities. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eFyydTnd #SourceForBetterHealth #NMHM24 #MinorityHealth #SDOH #HealthEquity

What better way to celebrate Women’s Health Month than by making women’s physical and mental health a priority? Data show that women have different levels of risk and health care needs, but unfortunately, gender bias remains in health care. Women have a higher risk of stroke than men do. And nearly 80% of people living in the United States with osteoporosis are women. As physicians, we can advance women’s health by focusing on prevention and care management, forming trusted relationships with our patients, and collaborating among care teams and specialties to expand services—efforts that are already ingrained in Permanente Medicine’s core values. #NWHM #WomensHealth