Health Equity

With the patient population becoming more and more diverse, the importance of breaking down cultural barriers is more important than ever. The United States is rapidly approaching a population of 350 million people of various cultural backgrounds that speak different languages and practice different religions, and they all have one thing in common; they all...

Reducing health disparities is a vital goal in improving public health. Health disparities can result in preventable differences in health outcomes, particularly for those that are in a socially disadvantaged population.  In 2023, healthcare providers should prioritize reducing health disparities. Here are some effective strategies that can significantly reduce health disparities. What Are Health Disparities?...

Hispanic people born in the United States may be at higher risk for multiple chronic diseases than their peers born in other countries, new research suggests. Compared to first-generation Hispanic people born elsewhere, those born in the U.S. showed an unfavorable blood cardiometabolic profile associated with obesity, diabetes, chronic kidney disease and asthma, according to...

Key Takeaways Advisers to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration will discuss over-the-counter purchase of a nasal spray that can reverse an opioid overdose The spray — generic naloxone hydrochloride — can already be obtained without a prescription, but currently buyers must get it from a pharmacist Experts say removing that requirement could remove some...

Black patients have higher rates of delayed appendicitis diagnosis and 30-day hospital use than White patients, according to a study published online Jan. 18 in JAMA Surgery. Ana M. Reyes, M.D., from Northwestern University in Chicago, and colleagues assessed whether patient race and ethnicity are associated with delayed appendicitis diagnosis and postoperative 30-day hospital use. The...

Some inmates in California could begin getting certain limited health services, including substance abuse treatment and mental health diagnoses, using Medicaid funds. Typically, inmates lose Medicaid coverage while in the prison, jail or juvenile justice system. This change will be the first time ever that Medicaid has provided some coverage for inmates, the Associated Press reported. The...

Key Takeaways The EPA’s new proposed standards on fine particle pollution — soot — would be the first update since 2012. This tiny pollution stems from the burning of fossil fuels and is linked to asthma, heart and lung disease, and premature death. Those most affected by PM2.5 are children, older adults, heart and lung...

Key Takeaways A growing number of Americans with employer-provided health insurance are skipping medical care due to rising costs The cost of health care services has far outpaced income growth Women, who generally earn less than men, are finding it especially hard to foot the bill for anything their insurance doesn’t cover Most working-age Americans...

Black women continue to have poor health outcomes regarding breast cancer. According to the American Cancer Association, compared to all other racial and ethnic groups, Black women have the lowest 5-year survival rate for every stage of diagnosis and every subtype of breast cancer [1]. Breast cancer mortality is twice as high for Black women...