RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Proactive Strategies to Address Health Equity and Disparities: Recommendations from a Bi-National Symposium
JF The Journal of the American Board of Family
                Medicine
JO J Am Board Fam Med
FD American Board of Family Medicine
SP 479
OP 483
DO 10.3122/jabfm.2018.03.170299
VO 31
IS 3
A1 Haggerty, Jeannie
A1 Chin, Marshall H.
A1 Katz, Alan
A1 Young, Kue
A1 Foley, Jonathan
A1 Groulx, Antoine
A1 Pérez-Stable, Eliseo J.
A1 Turnbull, Jeff
A1 DeVoe, Jennifer E.
A1 Uchendu, Uche S.
YR 2018
UL http://www.jabfm.org/content/31/3/479.abstract
AB Introduction: Health inequities persist in Canada and the United States. Both countries show differential health status and health care quality by social characteristics, making zip or postal code a greater predictor of health than genetics. Many social determinants of health overlap in the same individuals or communities, exacerbating their vulnerability. Many of the contributing factors and problems are structural and evade simple solutions.Methods: In March 2017 a binational Canada–US symposium was held in Washington DC involving 150 primary care thought leaders, including clinicians, researchers, patients, and policy makers to address transformation in integrated primary care. This commentary summarizes the session's principal insights and solutions of the session tackling health inequities at policy and delivery levels.Discussion: The solution lies in intervening proactively to reduce disparities—developing risk-adjustment measures that integrate social factors; increasing the socioeconomic, racial, and ethnic diversity of health providers; teaching cultural humility; supporting community-oriented primary care; and integrating equity considerations into health system funding. We propose moving from retrospective analysis to proactive measures; from equality to equity; from needs-based to strength-based approaches; and from an individual to a population focus.