Do health care disparities exist where you live?

Healthcare Disparities

Do health care disparities exist where you live? If so, what are they and how can you and/or your organization address these?

All of my career, I have cared for and imaged many oncology patients.  “Cancer is the second leading cause of death globally, accounting for an estimated 9.6 million deaths, or one in six deaths, in 2018.  The cancer burden continues to grow globally, exerting tremendous physical, emotional and financial strain on individuals, families, communities and health systems.” (World Health Organization)  Patients and physicians must have the knowledge on the importance of early detection of cancers, quality treatment, and survivorship care.

Some cancer disparities are caused by things that people can control.  Other differences are caused by uncontrollable factors, like race and gender.  Professionals must know the types of disparities that exist and why they exist so that patients and other health care professionals can find the best fit for their patient’s treatment plan, so more cases of cancer can be prevented.  Also, there are several factors that contribute to cancer disparities, such as socioeconomic status; access to healthcare; culture and beliefs; global disparities; diet and nutrition; and biology/genetics.

It will be unlikely that eliminating cancer and other health disparities can be achieved through health care mandates alone.  Redefining the framework of cancer disparities research beyond health care is critical.  Funding of cancer disparities research, which includes assessment of the impact of economic, education, and social policies on health outcomes, will inform and broaden the agenda toward solutions to eliminate cancer disparities.

“West Virginia is the fifth-poorest U.S. state, with a median household income of $51,615 and a poverty rate of 14.6%. West Virginians have the lowest level of higher education attainment in the nation, with only 23.1% of its residents holding a Bachelor’s degree or higher. The state also has the second-lowest life expectancy in the country, at a mere 74.5 years.” (Poorest states 2022)

Recently, WVU Medicine has partnered with findhelp, America’s leading social care network, to help address social determinants of health, or barriers, that affect patient health, such as transportation, medical appointments, food, and shelter.  This partnership was established to specifically address and improve the health, well-being, and quality of life for individuals who live in West Virginia. (WV News, 2022)

Do the practices of your organization create health care disparities? If so, how and how might you fix them?            

              Because many different factors can influence cancer disparities, addressing them is not always simple or straightforward. Reducing or eliminating some cancer disparities in the pursuit of health equity will require policy changes to overcome systemic social, racial, and/or institutional inequalities.

Although this does not pertain to our organization, but others could have a lack of diversity in medicine, research, and health care that has been proposed to assume a role in cancer health-care disparities.  The cultural diversity of oncology patients is increasing, and cultural sensitivity and competence are now required of all oncology professionals.  Cultural competence in healthcare relates to individual professionals, but also to organizations and systems. A culturally competent healthcare system must consider in their separateness and yet in their reciprocal influences on social, racial and cultural factors.

Reference

Poorest states 2022. (n.d.).

https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/poorest-states

WV News. (2022, October 4). WVU Medicine partners with findhelp to Address Social

Determinants of Health.

WVU Medicine partners with findhelp to address social determinants of health MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – WVU Medicine has partnered with findhelp, America’s leading social care network, to help address social determinants of health, or barriers, that affect patient health, such as transportation, WV News 

World Health Organization. (n.d.). Cancer. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/health-topics/cancer#tab=tab_1