New Orleans history shows that obtaining equity in healthcare has been an uphill battle since the city was founded in the early 1700s. Fast forward to the 21st century and one will see that the societal constructs upon which our city was built perpetuates the inequity faced by people of color. Our post from last week highlights the racial disparities Louisiana has experienced over the past one and a half years with the Covid-19 pandemic. From this we can see that while great progress has been made in acknowledging the healthcare inequity Louisiana has, more is yet to be done to fully mitigate the disparities that come forth during any unprecedented situation.
Researchers from the Institute of Women and Ethnic Studies and the Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine recommend the following ways to promote better health equity:
Addressing factors underlying persistent health disparities in New Orleans by institutionalizing equity through staff training, quality improvement, and deep engagement with community members.
Effectively communicating the services, programs, and health resources provided by the New Orleans Health Department and the City of New Orleans
Continuing to conduct equity-focused health impact assessments and act accordingly on the data found in those assessments.
Pursue a people-driven and community-centered approach in the healthcare system by building relationships with community leaders, community-based organizations, and community members.
Focus on community partnerships, culturally-relevant responses to community issues, and integrating local expertise with scientific evidence into health equity initiatives.
Increase access to high-quality, population-based health data by increasing the state, federal, and philanthropic commitment to funding community-level data collection and dissemination efforts.
Be sure to check out LoveYourCity’s upcoming Overcoming Racism Workshop to learn about how you and your company can take steps to break down systems of inequity.
