[EQ] Reducing Health Inequities: A Health System Approach to Chronic Disease Prevention

Towards Reducing Health Inequities: A Health System Approach to Chronic Disease Prevention.

A Discussion Paper.
Vancouver, BC: Population & Public Health, Provincial Health Services Authority, (2011)

Available online PDF file at: http://bit.ly/r4HuZD

This report adds value in a number of ways by:

• Focusing on what the health system can do in relation to the design and delivery of services, with a particular emphasis on prevention;

• Uncovering and sharing information about several current BC initiatives and recent policy directions that can
  support the health system’s role in reducing health inequities;

• Providing more detailed information about issues and barriers within the health system in BC that may be inadvertently creating
  or perpetuating health inequities that contribute to chronic diseases in three specific underserved populations.
  Seven overarching barriers are identified that affect the availability, accessibility, and acceptability of health services in BC (see Section 4);

• Proposing five recommendations for action for addressing the barriers faced by those underserved populations (see Section 5),
  and highlighting two of those recommendations as priority recommendations (see Section 6);

• Building on the recommendations for action by identifying 27 specific opportunities for appropriate and relevant actions the health system can take (see Section 5);

• Identifying opportunities for further dialogue and action (see Section 6); and

• Providing a list of relevant equity related tools, resources, frameworks, and local activities and initiatives that can be aligned with,
  utilized, adapted, or built upon to implement the recommendations for action (see Appendix D & E).

 

Tools and resources include health equity/assessment tools, indicators, health literacy toolkits and courses, cultural competency training modules, community engagement frameworks, and cultural broker/patient navigator modules. These tools and  resources are conveniently organized by the opportunities for action they are intended to support…”

 

Content:

1.0 Introduction

1.1 Content and Organization of the Discussion Paper

2.0 Overview of the Reducing Health Inequities Project

3.0 Background

3.1 Chronic Disease in British Columbia

3.2 Health Inequities in British Columbia

3.3 Promoting Health Equity within the Health System

3.3.1 How the Health System Impacts Health Equity

3.4 Recent Policy Directions Supporting the Health System’s Role in Reducing Health Inequities

4.0 Health System Barriers

4.1 Availability

4.2 Accessibility

4.3 Acceptability

5.0 Recommendations for Action

6.0 Moving Towards Reducing Health Inequities:

Recommendations & Additional Opportunities

7.0 Moving Towards Reducing Health Inequities: A Call to Action

Appendix A: Participants in the Reducing Health Inequities Project

Appendix B: Frameworks for Understanding Equity and Health Systems

Appendix C: Specific Recommendations of the Three Working Groups

Appendix D: Aligning with Ongoing Activities and Initiatives

Appendix E: Existing Resources and Initiatives

References

PROJECT:
Reducing Health Inequities: A Health System Approach to Chronic Disease Prevention
Website:  http://bit.ly/r9heKR
A Health System Approach to Chronic Disease Prevention project to identify the actions the health system can take towards reducing health inequities. 

Three underserved populations were indentified for the focus of this work:
- immigrants,
- refugees, and  
- individuals transitioning into and out of the corrections system. 

An engagement process was undertaken with a wide range of key stakeholders from across BC representing health authorities, government, and community organizations to collectively put forward recommendations for action to reduce health inequities and improve the quality and accessibility of the health system's policies, programs and services. ….”

Chronic Disease Prevention project Steering Committee:

Paola Ardiles, Chair (BC Mental Health & Addiction Services)

Lydia Drasic (PHSA Population & Public Health)

Carole Gillam (Vancouver Coastal Health, Primary Care)

Andrew Kmetic (PHSA Population & Public Health)

John Millar (PHSA Population & Public Health)

Ann Pederson (BC Women’s Hospital & Health Centre and the BC Centre of Excellence for Women’s Health)

Meredith Woermke (PHSA Population & Public Health)

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