6 Steps you can take now as a provider to address health inequities

Inequities in healthcare have importantly moved to the forefront, but many clinicians are left asking––what’s next? Addressing the seemingly endless array of obstacles that prevent equal health outcomes for everyone sometimes feels impossible. Social determinants of health, how people live, work and play affect their overall wellness and account for about half of the equation to a person’s ultimate healthcare outcomes, much more than the clinical treatment they receive.

If a person’s zip code has more bearing on their wellness than their genetic code, how are healthcare providers supposed to address inequitable outcomes? Often, healthcare providers spend only a few minutes with each patient. This doesn’t give them much insight into their lives to see what is happening.

There is one specialty within the medical industry that does get the opportunity to spend extended time with patients, often in a familiar environment or even their own homes. The post-acute space is uniquely suited to dive deep into social factors and solutions that work. 

With this in mind, we spoke with experts in the field to compile a list of action items that providers can realistically take on how to make an impact on the overall picture of health equity.