SC Connecticut News

Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, racial disparities in health outcomes became evident. Black and Hispanic patients faced higher mortality rates compared to white patients. However, Yale New Haven Health reported a lower overall mortality rate during the pandemic's first two years without race-based survival differences among discharged patients.

Benjamin Mba, MBBS, professor of medicine and vice chair of diversity at Yale School of Medicine’s Department of Internal Medicine, stated that "disparities in both health and health care have existed for as long as we have had any system of health care delivery." This topic was central to the department's September 2024 summit titled "Advancing Health Equity: Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond," hosted by Gary Désir, MD.

The summit gathered professionals from across the East and Midwest regions to discuss strategies for advancing health equity. The discussions emphasized that health systems should prioritize equity alongside high-quality care. Concrete steps include gathering representative data, setting community health goals, educating employees, building trust through partnerships, improving access to services, and engaging with policy.

Marcella Nunez-Smith highlighted the success of achieving vaccination parity through prioritizing access and addressing structural barriers. She briefed national leaders on these achievements in September 2021.

Jonathan M. Siner discussed how Yale New Haven Health standardized ICU structures and processes to ensure equal treatment during the pandemic. By creating a COVID care pathway integrated into electronic records, they reduced bias risks and improved patient outcomes.

Jaya Aysola pointed out that eliminating healthcare disparities does not address broader health disparities influenced by factors outside healthcare settings. Harlan Krumholz emphasized supporting patients beyond hospital discharge to prevent readmissions due to unaddressed risk factors.

David Ansell from Rush University System of Health described efforts in Chicago to address life expectancy gaps by embedding anti-racist principles in operations and investing locally.

Manisha Juthani worked on improving vaccination equity in Connecticut through community partnerships. Ngozie Ezike stressed the importance of employing community health workers for culturally competent care.

Emily Wang addressed challenges faced by incarcerated individuals during the pandemic. Her work with the Transitions Clinic Network focused on meeting their needs post-release.

Bhramar Mukherjee underscored equitable data collection as essential for diagnosing and prioritizing health equity issues accurately. Suja Mathew noted resistance within healthcare staff regarding acknowledgment of inequities but stressed education's role in changing perceptions.

Celeste Philip invited attendees to consider political determinants impacting public health policies related to racism embedded within infrastructure laws. David Ansell concluded with a call for academic centers to pursue life expectancy gap elimination alongside quality improvements actively.

For more information about Yale School of Medicine's Department of Internal Medicine, visit their website.