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Health Disparities

Why I'm worried it's not just croup

AAPA Health Disparities Work Group May 16, 2012

With decreased immunization rates, wooping cough seems to be making a comeback, showing its distinctive sound particularly on the Pacific coast.

The concept of the "Citizen PA"

AAPA Health Disparities Work Group May 01, 2012

Some PAs may feel a focus on health disparities is extracurricular. Identifying ourselves as citizen PAs allows us to realize our capacities, both large and small, to effect change.

Should PAs assess and address the impact of implicit bias on patient care?

Jim Anderson, PA-C, ATC April 24, 2012

Implicit bias is so subtle that colleagues may not recognize it in themselves. Among the signs to watch for are loss of patient autonomy and lack of fairness in treatment.

The Plan B university vending machine: Would removal limit healthcare access?

AAPA Health Disparities Work Group April 18, 2012

Politics and media have played a role in encouraging the removal of vending machines containing Plan B to students. Has this also created disparity?

Clinician bias in pain care for children: The emperor and his clothing revisited

AAPA Health Disparities Work Group April 10, 2012

A recent study shows that clinician bias leads to unequal pain care in children, but clinician avoidance of why this is so is the real problem.

Live from the Capitol: A weekend of mixing PA passion with law

Jim Anderson, PA-C, ATC March 30, 2012

The author shares his inspiring experience with fellow PAs and PA students who united to bring issues such as EHR incentives to the forefront during AAPA's Capitol Connection 2012.

Not much has changed, has it?

Ben Olmedo, PA-C March 30, 2012

In 1989, PA journals wrote about the need to involve more minorities in the PA profession. In 2012, the headlines still read the same.

How will your personal beliefs affect the care you deliver?

AAPA Health Disparities Work Group March 15, 2012

Caregivers are entitled to personal beliefs, but patients are entitled to receive the care they desire. Decide how you will handle the situation beforehand.

Neuraminidase inhibitors are the standard for influenza, but aren't accessible by all

Sabrina Y. Jackson, PA-C, MMSc March 15, 2012

The author responds to the article "Battling Influenza: Universal vaccination is the primary weapon" in the January 2012 issue of JAAPA.

Great expectations—or how to  focus on prevention for all

Daniel L. O’Donoghue, PA-C, PhD March 06, 2012

Collaborating with public health departments and community programs is key to achieving behavioral change in our patients, even for the underserved.

Where does health disparities elimination take place?

AAPA Health Disparities Work Group February 29, 2012

This week, Jim Anderson, PA-C, ATC, ponders where finding the end of disparities should start and devises a two-part strategy to gain footing.

Thirty years of HIV: Have we shifted our focus in the right direction?

AAPA Health Disparities Work Group February 22, 2012

February 7th marked 30 years of fighting HIV. We've done an outstanding job stopping the spread of infection, but what about preventing the start of disease and reducing disparities?

Physician-assisted suicide: What should we do for our patients?

AAPA Health Disparities Work Group February 10, 2012

"Primum non nocere" may guide our daily practice, and our personal faith may further guide what we believe in, but what should we do for our patients when it comes to physician-assisted suicide?

#Hchlitss TweetChat brings disparities to the forefront, one tweet at a time

AAPA Health Disparities Work Group February 06, 2012

During a recent Health Communication, Health Literacy, & Social Science TweetChat, Jim Anderson, PA-C, ATC, led a real-time, worldwide discussion about health disparities and how AAPA is working to eliminate them.

Meaningful use incentive payments: What they are and how they impact PAs

Jim Anderson, PA-C, ATC February 02, 2012

Physician assistants who work in PA-owned clinics can receive EHR incentives--but what happens when a PA wants to work at a physician-led practice?

Is trauma care really free of bias?

AAPA Health Disparities Work Group January 26, 2012

Many health care providers believe trauma care is free of health disparities. But is subconscious bias actually influencing care based on race?

Keeping concussion care accessible for all

AAPA Health Disparities Work Group January 20, 2012

Athletes with concussions who have better access to health care may be more familiar with new concussion clinics--but others may not be aware. These tools and resources can help educate patients about these offerings.

Consulting the dictionary: How we can better define implicit bias to eliminate health disparities

AAPA Health Disparities Work Group January 12, 2012

Redefining the meaning of "implicit" in relation to health disparities can help pave the way for understanding and acceptance.

Examining the personal side of health disparities at AAPA's IMPACT 2012 in Toronto

AAPA Health Disparities Work Group January 04, 2012

When health disparities seem distant and out-of-reach, making them relatable can touch close to home for many PAs. Members of the AAPA Health Disparities Group will discuss how to make disparities personal at the upcoming AAPA conference.

U.S. Surgeon General's prescription for health care disparities: Dignity

AAPA Health Disparities Work Group December 22, 2011

In her address to the 40th graduating class of Yale University's Physician Associate Program, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Regina Benjamin countered that young graduates and practicing PAs alike can achieve health care equality through dignity.

Inside the AAPA Policy Manual—December 2011

Jim Anderson, PA-C, ATC December 16, 2011

According to the author, better food yields better discussion at the House of Delegates meeting. Here, a list of foodie places in Toronto, the upcoming AAPA conference locale, to fuel the decision-making.

Missing the forest for the trees: Is focusing on cultural competence undermining the elimination of health disparities?

AAPA Health Disparities Work Group November 30, 2011

Millions of dollars and hours have been spent on making providers more culturally competent. Has this focus unintentionally missed the mark and ignored the real trigger of health disparities: systemic causes?

Crossing borders: Opportunity for the indigenous may be no better on the other side

AAPA Health Disparities Work Group November 22, 2011

A Mexican-American citizen relates how the histories of his two home countries continue to marginalize their indigenous populations, barring access to resources and health.

AIDS: We've come a long way, but in some ways we've barely made a dent

AAPA Health Disparities Work Group November 15, 2011

The Academy's Health Disparities Work Group recommends specific strategies physician assistants can adopt to encourage their patients to undergo testing for HIV, as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends.

Reading "The Help": What I remember, and what I learned

Reamer L. Bushardt, PharmD, PA-C November 14, 2011

As I reflect on the lives of these women and consider how they shaped my view of the world, I feel like they already knew the secret to dismantling racism. Despite the adversity each faced, they demonstrated enormous respect for the people around them, were kind and loving, celebrated the little joys of life, and left the judging to a higher power.

The debut, and Health Disparities' bold take on equality issues

AAPA Health Disparities Work Group November 04, 2011

Welcome to the brand new weekly Health Disparities Blog! Here, an introduction to the new set-up and an overview of Health Affairs' recent take on racial disparities.

Disparities and complacency

Jim Anderson, PA-C, ATC October 21, 2011

Except for providers who live underneath rocks, most everyone knows about racial and other health disparities in care.

Eliminating health disparities: What works?—October 2011

Jim Anderson, PA-C, ATC October 12, 2011

This month's column unveils the changes to come to this blog and discusses how seemingly novel research will prove valuable in pinpointing disparities.

Eliminating health disparities: What works?—September 2011

Jim Anderson, PA-C, ATC September 09, 2011

This month's column discusses bias against black applicants for NIH grants, tough times for some Southern women, and a significant weakness in the Affordable Care Act.

Eliminating health disparities: What works?—August 2011

Jim Anderson, PA-C, ATC August 10, 2011

A press release from the US Department of Health and Human Services from late June of this year underscores a new and increased focus on the role of data collection in decreasing disparities.