Articles related to HEALTHCARE DISPARITIES

Dive into the essence of AANA’s updated guidelines for obstetric anesthesia and analgesia as we spotlight its focus on health equity and safety in maternal care. Commencing with the unveiling of the revised practice guidelines for obstetric anesthesia and analgesia, the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA) has emphasized enhancing patient care and safety. Interestingly, these updates also strive to tackle the critical issue of enduring health disparities in the United States. The AANA firmly believes in the power of certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) to help curb maternal mortality rates. The primary strategy focuses on mitigating racial and ethnic imbalances in pregnancy-related deaths. Beth Ann Clayton, DNP, CRNA, FAANA, FAAN, the key subject matter expert behind the revisions, underscores these inequalities as significant barriers to optimal maternal care. Using an evidence-based process, the AANA revised the guidelines, paying careful attention to current research. They’ve prioritized enhancing the readability of the content, updating the quality of references, and broadening their scope to encompass the most recent recommendations on obstetric analgesia and anesthesia care. The notable alterations include the broadening of analgesia and anesthesia considerations for labor and delivery. This expansion encompasses inhalation analgesia, neuraxial analgesia, general anesthesia, and an updated […]

A study using Medicare claims data examined racial and ethnic disparities in the use of medications for opioid use disorder (OUD) among fee-for-service beneficiaries in the United States. The study found that after an OUD-related event, such as an overdose or hospitalization, Black patients had lower rates of receiving medications to treat OUD compared to White patients. In the 180 days following the index event, Black patients received buprenorphine after 12.7% of events, while Hispanic patients received it after 18.7% of events and White patients after 23.3% of events. Similar patterns were observed with naloxone and benzodiazepines. These racial and ethnic differences in medication receipt did not change significantly from 2016 to 2019, and all groups had multiple ambulatory visits despite the disparities. The study highlights substantial and persistent racial and ethnic disparities in accessing medications for OUD among Medicare beneficiaries with disability. Black patients, in particular, had lower rates of receiving medications compared to White patients. These disparities remained consistent over time, suggesting that efforts to improve equity in medication access for OUD are needed. The findings emphasize the need to address systemic barriers and biases in healthcare delivery to ensure equal access to evidence-based treatments for OUD among […]

According to census data, there are 49.2 million older persons in the United States, with 21 million (42.6%) earning less than 200% of the federal poverty threshold. With the majority of older persons having their natural dentition, there will be an increased demand for oral health (OH) treatments among this demographic. Although the causative links between oral and systemic diseases are still developing and not entirely established, there is undeniably a bidirectional relationship between OH, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes in older persons.

Racial affinity group caucusing is explained and proposed as a component of the medical education curriculum for its potential value in dismantling the systems that produce inequities.

The diagnosis of FND can be made accurately based on positive clinical signs. Nevertheless, people with FND continue to suffer from discrimination across the spectra of clinical and research medicine. This review presents the evidence and outlines the causes of discrimination and suggests solutions.

The Organ Transplant and Procurement Network (OTPN) is set to undergo modernization and improvement after being criticized for lack of transparency, long waits, mishandling of organs, and the number of people who die on the waitlist each year. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has launched the OTPN modernization project, which will focus on accountability. The current system is outdated and has been responsible for 70 deaths between 2010 and 2020, according to a 2022 senate report. The HRSA plans to take steps, such as creating a new dashboard, to provide transparency and better serve patients and their families. Additional modernization will focus on overhauling the operations of the OTPN system to ensure higher compliance and a greater focus on patient safety. Organ transplants and the OTPN disproportionately affect the Black community in the US. About 30% of the ONTP waitlist is Black Americans, and about 90% are waiting for kidney transplants. The HRSA’s plan hopes to address the inequality by improving accountability, transparency, and systems of organ retrieval and matching. The changes will benefit patients, and physicians might be able to see more of their patients receive the life-saving transplants they need.