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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Monica Valdes Lupi, JD, MPH and Ijeoma Genevieve Mbamalu, MPH. Executive Office, Boston Public Health Commission, 1010 Massachusetts Avenue, 6th Floor, Boston, MA 02118, 617-534-7195, mvaldeslupi@bphc.org

Overview:

The population in Boston is now one where communities of color make up the majority of our residents. Even when they have the same access to care as Whites do, surveys demonstrate that communities of color still receive fewer diagnostic tests and disease treatment services. While local initiatives like REACH 2010 and Boston Healthy Start Initiative (BHSI) have produced lasting achievements in reducing disparities in specific disease areas, communities of color in Boston still report feelings of racial discrimination in health care and in the workplace.

Following the success of programs like REACH and BHSI, the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) and Mayor Thomas Menino have taken a comprehensive policy approach towards eliminating health disparities. Acknowledging that access to quality healthcare is a fundamental human right, the Disparities Project's approach to health reform is forward-looking—developing strategies that will close the health gap between Whites and residents of color in Boston.

Methods: Incorporating social factors such as racism and neighborhood infrastructure into health care factors like health systems reform, BPHC's approach to end disparities developed into the following activities:

· Mayor's Hospital Working Group: issued recommendations for the collection and reporting of race and ethnicity data to measure disparities, coordination of institutional cultural competency efforts and diversification of the healthcare workforce through bridge and accelerated programs;

· Mayor's Task Force Blueprint: outlined strategies for addressing social and health factors that contribute to health disparities;

· Disparities Data Report: provided information on persistence of racism, burden of poverty, and declining availability of affordable health insurance.

· Community Grants: issued $1 million in a request for proposals (RFP) to fund pilot projects that implement key blueprint and hospital recommendations.

Results: Out of 100 proposals submitted, 33 projects were selected in October 2005, from health and human service organizations, academic institutions and community agencies for 12 month funding, to implement 9 key blueprint recommendations. BPHC and its evaluator, Northeastern University, will be assessing grantees to identify over-all performance throughout the next 12 months.

BPHC is also coordinating training opportunities for grantees and the general public with:

· Disparities Solutions Center at Massachusetts General Hospital—training for hospital grantees on how to promote consistency in data collection of patient race and ethnicity;

· Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation—cultural competency training;

· VISIONS, Inc.— customized anti-racism and anti-discrimination trainings that delineate positive steps to reduce racism and discrimination

Learning Objectives:

• Upon completion of this presentation, participants will be able to identify systematic processes of addressing major health and non-health factors that limit provision and utilization of health services.
• Upon completion of this presentation, participants will be able to use the Task Force Blueprint recommendations as a model for improving access to quality health services for minorities.
• Upon completion of this presentation, participants will be able to identify action steps for bringing together leaders from hospitals, business, government, and the community to tackle the issue of ethnic and racial disparities.
• Upon completion of this presentation, participants will be able to utilize hospital-specific methodology for reducing racial and ethnic health disparities

Related Web page: www.bphc.org/disparities

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation