A time of opportunity: Local solutions to reduce inequities in health and safety

Good health is a matter of social justice. The Institute of Medicine's Roundtable on Health Disparities commissioned this paper to identify policy solutions at the community, regional and state level to reduce inequities in health and safety. To understand the landscape and delineate a set of solutions, the authors scanned literature and white papers and conducted interviews with policy makers and practitioners. Two critical needs were identified: A coherent, sustainable health care system that adequately meets the health requirements of the entire U.S. population, and of racial and ethnic minorities in particular, and community prevention strategies that target the factors underpinning why people get sick and injured in the first place. A quality health care system and community prevention are mutually supportive and together constitute a true health system.

Building on the research and interview process the authors delineate a set of policy principles, a comprehensive set of recommendations, and successful examples of implementation. This presentation will introduce the research findings, policy principles, recommendations and examples within the framework of a 4-pronged solution:

1. Strengthen communities where people live, work, play, socialize, and learn (Community); 2. Enhance opportunities within underserved communities to access high-quality, culturally competent health care with an emphasis on community-oriented and preventive services (Health Care); 3. Strengthen the infrastructure of our health system to reduce inequities and enhance the contributions from public health and health care systems (Systems); and 4. Support local efforts through leadership, overarching policies, and through local, state, and national strategy (Overarching).