My Quest for Health Equity

Social Context for Healthcare

“…Cultural competence is associated with the reduction and elimination of health disparities and is highlighted in Healthy People 2020 and Healthy People 2030 (Purnell & Fenkl, 2019). In all of these systems, which are committed to eliminating health disparities and enhancing health equity in local and global communities, leadership remains a crucial element (Satcher, 2020; see Chapter 20 for more information about the IHS).…”

“…Teams of interprofessional healthcare providers who learn and work together are emerging as the gold standard for delivering health services to diverse populations. Included on such teams are physicians, nurses, navigators, social workers, community health workers, and other volunteers who share a common mission and objective (Castrucci & Auerbach, 2019;Marmot, 2017;Satcher, 2020). Trending patterns include aging at home, use of technology for diagnosing and treating illness conditions, and educating a diverse workforce that mirrors the population needing health services that are delivered in the context of the social determinants of health.…”

“…Over time, delays in seeking and attaining healthcare can catapult them into a downward spiral that creates more morbidity and mortality-at this point, lives are compromised, and health costs for individuals and financial systems are increased. Many health conditions could be prevented if healthcare were universally available to all people (Castrucci & Auerbach, 2019;Gary et al, 2021;Kaholokula, 2020;Marmot, 2017;Okafor et al, 2018;Okafor et al, 2020;Satcher, 2020;Shultz et al, 2021).…”

“…These factors often determine individual and community health status. If health equity is to prevail, the health and social needs of specific populations must be taken into consideration in planning and implementing the equitable distribution of goods and services (Emanuel, 2020;Satcher, 2020).…”

“…Recall that clean water and adequate sanitation are essentials for good health (see Figure 1.2). Across the world community, immunizations and health education/disease prevention have helped to eliminate and reduce diseases and injuries (e.g., administering polio vaccines, promoting safe sex practices, requiring seat belts for youths and adults and special seats for infants and children, promoting oral healthcare; Lueddeke, 2016;Marmot, 2017;Satcher, 2020;Shultz et al, 2021).…”