Providing basic health care services and health education to the underserved Latino community in Sacramento
Author: Disparity Matters
A year-long investigation by STAT journalists Katie Palmer and Usha Lee McFarling has shed light on the widespread use of race in clinical algorithms across various medical specialties. Their series, “Embedded Bias,” reveals how these tools, intended to improve patient care, may inadvertently perpetuate health disparities.The project, which involved over 100 interviews with researchers, clinicians, health system executives, and federal officials, uncovered nearly 50 tools that incorporate race in current clinical care. These algorithms span multiple areas of medicine, from risk calculators for vaginal births after cesarean sections to kidney function estimates.Palmer’s journey began with a chance discovery of a…
Focusing on building trust within the Latino community to increase vaccination rates and address health needs
Working with community organizations to expand health care workforce to reflect the communities and patients they serve
Focusing on building trust within the Latino community to increase vaccination rates and address health needs
A recent study published in JAMA Network Open has shed light on an important yet often overlooked aspect of health disparities in the United States. The research reveals significant differences in heart failure rates among various Asian American subpopulations, challenging the notion that Asian Americans can be treated as a monolithic group in healthcare. The study, led by researchers at George Washington University, utilized data from the Cerner Real-World Database to analyze heart failure incidence and prevalence among different Asian American ethnic subgroups. Dr. Adrienne Ngar-Yee Poon, one of the study authors, emphasized the importance of this research, stating, “Cardiovascular disease…
A recent study highlights the disproportionate impact of asthma on minority children, revealing that they are more likely to be hospitalized compared to their white counterparts. The research, published in JAMA Network Open, found that non-Hispanic Black children had the highest prevalence of asthma hospitalizations, with rates ranging from 9.8 to 36.7 hospitalizations per 10,000 children. In contrast, non-Hispanic White children had the lowest prevalence, with rates ranging from 2.2 to 9.4 hospitalizations per 10,000 children. The study underscores the persistent racial disparities in asthma care and outcomes. Factors such as socioeconomic status, access to healthcare, and environmental conditions contribute to…
The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) has announced a significant initiative to break down language barriers in cancer care. The organization, along with the NCCN Foundation, is embarking on an ambitious project to translate their entire library of NCCN Guidelines for Patients into Spanish, with select editions available in additional languages. This move aims to empower cancer patients and caregivers worldwide with accessible, high-quality information. The NCCN Guidelines for Patients, a comprehensive collection of over 70 books, cover various aspects of cancer care, from prevention and screening to treatment and supportive care. Gena Cook, Chair of the NCCN Foundation Board of Directors,…
A new report from the American Cancer Society reveals a complex landscape of breast cancer trends in the United States. While overall mortality rates have plummeted by 44% since 1989, saving an estimated 517,900 lives, significant racial disparities continue to cast a shadow over this progress. The study, published in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, highlights a troubling disparity: American Indian and Alaska Native women have seen no improvement in breast cancer mortality rates over the past three decades. This stands in stark contrast to the general downward trend observed in other groups. Black women face a particularly challenging situation. Despite…
A recent study has uncovered a troubling trend in the U.S. healthcare system: preventative care services, meant to be free under the Affordable Care Act, are costing patients of color millions of dollars. The research, published in JAMA Network, reveals significant disparities in how these services are provided and billed across racial and ethnic lines. Black patients were found to be 50% more likely than their white counterparts to be denied a free caregiver visit. Even more alarming, Asian and Hispanic patients faced denial rates twice as high as white patients. These denials often result in out-of-pocket expenses for services that…