HEALTH DISPARITIES
Health disparities, which are sometimes referred to as health inequities, have garnered an increasing amount of attention from physicians and health policy experts. There is a renewed focus from federal health agencies. Approximately, 43.5 million Americans identify as non-Hispanic Black or African American, making up 13% of the total US population. Black Americans have the highest death rate and shortest survival of any racial/ethnic group in the US.
Despite major advances in medicine and public health during the past few decades, disparities in health and health care persist. Racial/ethnic minority groups in the United States are at a disproportionate risk of being uninsured, lacking access to care, and experiencing worse health outcomes from preventable and treatable conditions. As reducing these disparities has become a national priority, insight into the social determinants of health has become increasingly important.
The COVID-19 Pandemic has further exposed the inequities in care and information disparities that adversely affect the Black community.
The AGA Group™ will work with your health care facility to improve health outcomes, addressing social determinants of health, and eliminating barriers to access quality healthcare services. In order to truly achieve health, equity requires systemic and structural change. Differential access to care, treatment modalities, and disparate outcomes among various groups has been validated in numerous studies. We know that the contributing factors to health equity are cost and access to the healthcare system, primary care physicians, and preventive health services. 
HEALTH DISPARITIES DEFINED
Health disparities are differences and/or gaps in the quality of health and healthcare across racial, ethnic, and socio-economic groups. Another useful definition has been provided by the Institute of Medicine. It suggests that health disparities are racial or ethnic differences in the quality of healthcare that are not due to access-related factors or clinical needs, preferences, and appropriateness of intervention. Despite the usefulness of these definitions, it is important to understand that health disparities are not just based on race, ethnic, and cultural differences. Lifestyle choices, age, sexual orientation, lack of access, and personal, socio-economic, and environmental characteristics are also to be included.
DISPARITIES IN COST AND AFFORDABILITY
There is an enormous amount of data that further emphasizes a major contributor to the problem of health disparities: the cost and access to many Americans for obtaining the medical care they require. Clear disparities exist in rates of health insurance coverage among black and Latino population groups. The consequences of being uninsured are significant. These include the use of fewer needed services, poorer health outcomes, and higher death rates. Thus, the uninsured tend to be disproportionately poor, young, and from racial and/or ethnic minority groups.
Our Solution
At The AGA Group™, our goal is to help healthcare facilities achieve health equity, eliminate disparities, and improving the health of all groups. We offer professional training to maximize value-based performance in diverse medically underserved communities. Our team of Trainers will customize courses to address your practice or facility’s needs.
- How to Align Patient Experience and Patient-Centered Medical Home Data to Maximize Performance and Health Equity
- Best Practices in Designing Training Strategies to Improve Culturally Competent Care and Health Equity Within the Patient-Centered Medical Home Model
- Application of Health Belief Models to Improve Trust in Provider Technical Competencies among Racially Diverse Communities.
- Best Practices for Improving Patient Engagement to Improve Compliance and Clinical Outcomes
Contact us today to schedule a meeting.