In an effort to address health disparities, Northwestern Memorial Healthcare has launched a program aimed at increasing organ donation and transplantation rates among Hispanic and Latino populations. The initiative comes in response to alarming statistics that reveal a significant gap in transplant access for these communities.
According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, only 36% of Hispanic or Latino candidates on transplant waiting lists received organs in 2023, compared to 58% of non-Hispanic white candidates. This disparity highlights a critical issue in healthcare equity that Northwestern is determined to address.
The Northwestern Medicine Hispanic Transplant Program employs a multifaceted approach to break down barriers to care. By utilizing bilingual and culturally sensitive staff, the program aims to overcome language obstacles and build trust within the Hispanic community.
Dr. Daniel Borja-Cacho, a transplant surgeon involved in the program since 2018, emphasizes the importance of cultural understanding. “One of the ways that you can break mistrust is with talking in the native language and explaining that you understand their background,” he states, highlighting the program’s commitment to personalized care.
The initiative has shown promising results. A 2015 study revealed a 70% increase in Hispanic kidney transplant recipients at Northwestern following the program’s implementation. Building on this success, the healthcare system has expanded its efforts to include other organs and launched a similar program for African American patients in 2019.
As other hospitals across the nation adopt similar approaches, Northwestern’s pioneering work serves as a model for addressing racial and ethnic disparities in organ transplantation, paving the way for more equitable healthcare outcomes.
“Inside one healthcare system’s quest for more Hispanic, Latino organ donors” – October 8, 2024