What strategies can you use to promote health equity as a patient advocate?

Health care providers may sometimes deepen disparities by not recognizing cultural factors that promote health and well-being. For example, for some minority groups, maintaining close knit family and community connections is central to their lifestyles. Such connections are actually protective of the well-being of community members, despite other adverse factors. Yet, health care providers may only take into account the individualized approach favored by mainstream American culture, and even get annoyed by the participation of extended families in the care of their relatives. It is essential for providers to step down from their own view of dominant cultural and social patterns as more modern and desirable.

In nutshell, "equity" approach must ensure though risk-analysis and environmental scanning (pre programming) and thus, addressing #Affordability, #Accessibility and #Quality at all levels through universal health coverage (UHC) and health systems strengthening (HSS)

In classical Aristotelian philosophy, the essence of good and persuasive communication is to consider the other person as an equal in all senses. That is particularly difficult for heath providers, who are often considered of a higher social status. To communicate effectively with people affected by health disparities, providers must recognize that the knowledge and life experience of patients, though different to their own, are just as valuable. When providers treat patients as equals, the effectiveness of communication multiplies several folds and other barriers such as language and cultural differences become easier to overcome.

Consider reaching out to clinical research organization (CRO) and remember clinical trials are a healthcare option for many. CROs have a wealth of therapeutic knowledge, complemented by deep understanding of the patient journey that can be shared with new patients or trial-naïve sites. Joining the network of these organizations enable greater health outcomes by focusing on reaching patients where they are through innovative technology and diverse methodologies.

Other important actions that help reduce health disparities include recruiting, training and mentoring health professionals from groups affected by disparities, increasing the will and ability of providers to spend sufficient time interacting with patients, promoting integrated care and interoperability of data systems not just among medical facilities but also with social and community programs and services, embedding healthy cultural practices in care plans, and gaining first hand knowledge of the reality of communities - including threats and assets.