Advancing Health Equity Through Innovation and Collaboration: A Catalyst for Change

Key takeaways:

• Health equity and disparities in care remain pervasive issues in the U.S.
• For racial and ethnic minorities, health disparities take on many forms, including higher rates of chronic disease and mortality.
• In the second year of the "Advancing Health Equity Through Innovation and Collaboration" event, the PINC AI™ Applied Sciences team and their partners continue their work to develop long-lasting solutions to our nation’s health equity crisis.

A decades-old problem, healthcare inequities in the U.S. continue to persist in 2023. A recent report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveals African Americans and other minorities have high mortality rates in certain areas, including heart disease and cancer. In addition to taking a toll on the health and well-being of these populations, healthcare inequities in the U.S. have a staggering economic impact: ≈$320 billion according to one analysis. That number could eclipse $1 trillion in annual spending by 2040 if healthcare inequality remains unaddressed.

The PINC AI™ Applied Sciences (PAS) team, along with their partners, are on the forefront of addressing this issue – and actively working together to eliminate health inequities for all.

Over two days in September, PAS along with Henry Ford Health (HFH), Henry Ford Innovations (HFI), community organizations, patient advocacy groups and life sciences organizations came together in Detroit with a shared commitment to advance cancer care, aiming to ensure equitable screening, diagnosis and treatment of cancer for historically marginalized and underserved communities.

The Core Mission: Advancing Health Equity in Cancer Care

Held for the second year in a row, the "Advancing Health Equity Through Innovation and Collaboration" event zeroed in on crucial health issues plaguing our country’s underserved communities, with a special focus on lung cancer, prostate cancer and multiple myeloma. Teams engaged in an equity-centered design thinking process to collaboratively develop prototype solutions with the goal to eliminate inequities in care.

Day One focused on the barriers patients encounter along their cancer care journey and showcased inspirational collaborations between HFH and key community stakeholders to promote health equity. To see these collaborations in action and gain a firsthand understanding of the systemic barriers to healthcare, the group took a tour through the Detroit community including New Calvary Baptist Church in the city’s East Side neighborhood.

Leaders of the church highlighted the Faith Community Nurses Network and their close work with Henry Ford Health to reach the congregants through programming, resources and education – all aimed at improving health inequities and access to vaccines, preventive healthcare and information about clinical trials.

“Churches in the African American community are more than houses of worship; they are trusted beacons of hope and healing. Through faith and fellowship, these longstanding community staples have the power to not only nourish the soul with spiritual and emotional support, but also provide the knowledge and guidance to link community members to needed healthcare resources to nourish the body,” said Sharifa Alcendor, Manager, Multicultural Health, Henry Ford Health.

“We prioritized listening to those affected by social determinants of health, to church leaders connecting communities to vital services, to dedicated social and community health workers and to individuals facing the challenges of cancer,” added Jim Snyder, DO, Henry Ford Cancer, Henry Ford Innovations. “These conversations, often emotionally moving, took place in the heart of Detroit’s marginalized community, providing a new perspective into our patients’ struggles. I departed humbled and proud of HFH’s existing health equity efforts and filled with hope for the transformative impact of this event in channeling resources for lasting community health improvements.”

On Day Two, teams reflected on their discussions and experiences from the previous day. They prioritized the barriers to cancer care marginalized communities face and then shifted the discussion to creative, innovative solutions to address the barriers. The teams are continuing to refine these prototype solutions and this month, will seek feedback from a clinical council of experts from HFH, PAS and the Detroit community. The goal is to pave the way for multi-stakeholder-led projects that will be implemented and tested.

Empowering Communities, Fostering Innovation

The collective partnership developed through the "Advancing Health Equity Through Innovation and Collaboration" event creates a platform where communities can unearth their own solutions, drive innovation and influence change. By facilitating access to expertise and life science connections, PAS aims to guide communities through the entire process, from concept to implementation – underscoring the fact that the event is not just a moment in time; it is a catalyst for lasting change.

For more on this topic:

• Dig deeper into PAS’ commitment to advancing health equity on our blog.
• Learn more about the PINC AI™ Health Equity Collaborative for health systems.
• Read more about PAS and explore our research and analytics solutions.

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