Center on Health Equity & Access

In our conversation with Jeff Giullian, MD, MBA, chief medical officer with DaVita Kidney Care, we dive into 4 important aspects of kidney care: prevention, social support, integrated care, and patient support.

Many women remain unaware that the Affordable Care Act (ACA) mandates cost-free preventive services; however, ongoing legal challenges threaten the future of this coverage.

The Center on Health Equity & Access focuses on addressing disparities in health care access, exploring innovative solutions, policies, and research to improve health equity across diverse populations.

The history of women being left out of heart disease research has had significant consequences on heart health care today.

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is an inflammatory, chronic disease with very high symptom and physical burdens, and it can get progressively worse over time if it's inadequately treated, explained Amit Garg, MD, founding chair, Department of Dermatology, Northwell Health.

The current research focus for Umit Tapan, MD, Boston Medical Center, is reducing disparities in lung cancer care and improving treatment access, in particular for immunotherapy and targeted treatments.

New findings show that undocumented Latinx immigrants, who make up 7% of the US population, face significant challenges in accessing health care due to uninsurance, limited access to care, language barriers, and fears surrounding their immigration status.

Two posters presented at the CHEST 2024 annual meeting highlighted the importance of addressing socioeconomic disparities and identifying clinical predictors to improve outcomes and survival rates among patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).

Bipolar disorder is commonly misdiagnosed depending on the features that present, explained Stephanie Hsia, PharmD, MAEd, BCPP, of University of California, San Francisco.

Despite advancements in umbilical cord blood transplants, social determinants of health, such as poverty and public insurance, continue to impact outcomes, underscoring the need for equitable access to lifesaving treatments.

Two posters presented at the CHEST 2024 annual meeting highlighted significant disparities in acute coronary syndrome care and outcomes among different racial, ethnic, and gender groups, underscoring the urgent need for targeted interventions to address these inequities.

Many talks at the Association of Cancer Care Centers (ACCC) 41st National Oncology Conference advocated for the adoption of culturally relevant care, the leveraging of community partnerships, and community engagement to build better trust with patients and improve outcomes.

At CHEST 2024, Cesar Davila-Chapa, MD, University of Nebraska Medical Center, brings awareness to the racial disparities demonstrated in his investigation of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) hospitalizations and outcomes.

The progress made to mitigate the opioid use crisis still pales in comparison with the crucial effort needed to address it, especially in regard to accessing medication.

Allowing patients to stay in their homes to receive bispecific antibodies can make the whole cancer journey easier, explained Courtney VanHouzen, PharmD, of Cowell Family Cancer Center, Munson Healthcare.

Financial advocacy in health care should advocate for system change and community work to give people better access to health and well-being before they get a life-changing cancer diagnosis, said Nadine J. Barrett, PhD, MA, MS, FACCC, of Wake Forest University and the Association of Cancer Care Centers.

Naoto T. Ueno, MD, PhD, FACP, of the University of Hawai’I Cancer Center outlines the underrepresentation in clinical trials, the lack of permanent medical oncologists, and issues of trust affecting care for the populations living in Hawaii.

Financial toxicity and patient and staff wellness were well explored at the Association of Cancer Care Centers (ACCC) 41st National Oncology Conference, serving as the focal point of multiple posters and presentations.

One of the key highlights was the discussion of Pulmonary Embolism Response Teams (PERT), addressing controversies in PE management and focusing on personalized, patient-centered care.

Two posters presented at CHEST 2024 revealed significant racial and ethnic disparities in the hospitalization and treatment of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), with Black patients hospitalized at younger ages but less likely to receive antifibrotic medications than White patients.

Mortality outcomes were analyzed for the COVID-19 public health emergency period, from March 2020 through May 2023, to see if there were any apparent differences according to race or ethnicity.

Individuals with self-reported moderate to severe psoriatic arthritis (PsA) face a higher disease burden, particularly among Black participants, highlighting the need for a better understanding of the interplay between PsA severity and racial and ethnic disparities.

During CHEST 2024, Maxine Dexter, MD, Kaiser Permanente, discussed her belief in the vital role of physicians in public health advocacy, drawing from her legislative work on issues as a former Oregon State Representative.