Oral

While healthcare reform offers hope to millions of Americans without insurance and potential relief for those with pre-existing chronic conditions, it also presents questions regarding access to advanced medical treatments and health-related technologies. This session will address cross-cutting social justice issues related to emerging medical and information technologies. The speakers will highlight potential benefits from emerging technologies such as novel therapeutic approaches and health information technology. They will also discuss important opportunities and challenges that result from inequities in access among special populations, as well as strategies that can be used to address these barriers and further engage minority participants in health programs and services that use emerging technologies to improve the public’s health.

Session Objectives: 1) Describe ways in which health information technology within public health initiatives can bridge the digital divide in access to information. 2) Discuss issues of access to emerging technologies in providing optimal care for people with rare disorders and those with common chronic conditions. 3) Describe strategies for increasing participation and engagement of ethnic minority populations in health programs and services using emerging technologies.

CE Credits: Medical (CME), Health Education (CHES), Nursing (CNE), Public Health (CPH)